Flash flood in northern village leaves 15 dead, over 100 missing

Rescue team races against time to find the missing. — Photo baolaocai.vn

LÀO CAI — A devasting flash flood struck a village in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai on Tuesday, leaving 15 people dead and more than 100 missing.

The disaster took place in Phúc Khánh Commune in Bảo Yên District when a severe flood-triggered landslide engulfed Làng Nú Village, burying 128 people.

Rescue teams have recovered 15 bodies and rescued 10 survivors. However, the majority of the villagers remain missing.

Local people, who described the area as previously unaffected by natural disasters, were caught completely off guard by the sudden flash flood and landslide.

With roads cut off and communication lines down, the search for survivors has proven challenging, but local authorities are working tirelessly to locate the missing.

Leading on-site response, Hoàng Quốc Bảo, Secretary of the Bảo Yên District Party Committee, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and moblised all available manpower and equipment for the rescue operation. — VNS