Floods in Ba Che district of northern Quang Ninh province (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) –Torrential rains and floods following the recent Son Tinh storm ravaged many northernand northern central localities, already claiming five lives and leaving 58missing or injured.
According to theCentral Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, as ofJuly 20 afternoon, the northern province of Yen Bai reported three deaths, 11missing and seven injured cases in Van Chan, Mu Cang Chai, Tran Yen, and VanYen districts.
More than 2,500 householdsin Yen Bai have been affected by heavy rains and floods, while 642 houses were seriouslydamaged, including 79 that were completely ruined. Another 300 families havehad to evacuate.
Meanwhile, authoritiesare on the search for 35 locals in Chau Binh commune, in Quy Chau district ofthe central province of Nghe An, who went into the jungle to harvest youngbamboos but have not returned, losing contact with their families.
Son Tinh storm, the thirdoccurring in the East Sea so far this year, directly devastated provinces fromThai Binh to Quang Binh from July 17-19. Water levels rose in the Red River, ThaiBinh River, and Hoang Long River, along with other rivers from Thanh Hoa toQuang Binh causing widespread floods.
Leaders of some mountainouslocalities of Nghe An, which are at high risk of flashfloods and landslides, haverolled out response measures and warned locals.
As of July 19, thestorm destroyed 1,000ha of farm land and industrial crops; 60ha of forest; 15,000tonnes of salt; and 922 hectares of aquatic farms; while also damaging fiveschools in Nghe An.
According to Directorof the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Hoang Duc Cuong,heavy rains will continue covering the northern and northern central regionsuntil July 21. From July 23, extremely heavy rains are forecast in thenortheastern region, mostly in Quang Ninh and Lang Son, which will then spreadto the whole northern region from July 24-27. -VNA
VNA
