On the morning of September 10, information from the Lao Cai Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue said that in the three days from September 7 to 9, heavy rain, floods, landslides and flash floods killed 20 people (7 in Sa Pa, 2 in Van Ban, 6 in Bac Ha and 5 in Simacai); 11 people were missing (1 in Sa Pa town; 10 in Bat Xat district); 14 people were injured (10 in Sa Pa town; 3 in Bat Xat district and 1 in Bac Ha district).
In particular, floods on the Red River exceeded alert level 3, causing flooding in many areas of Lao Cai city and riverside localities, inundating hundreds of houses.
According to statistics from localities, the whole province had 1,109 houses flooded, landslides and swept away by floods (Sa Pa 18 houses, Bao Thang 361 houses, Van Ban 48 houses, Bac Ha 15 houses, Bat Xat 97 houses, Simacai 14 houses, Bao Yen 518 houses, Lao Cai city 38 houses).
Regarding agricultural production, floods and landslides have inundated and buried 892.32 hectares of rice (Van Ban district 269.69 hectares; Bao Thang 143.8 hectares; Bao Yen 466.14 hectares; Sa Pa 0.69 hectares and Bat Xat 12 hectares).
The floods also broke 475.04 hectares of corn and other crops (Van Ban 68.39 hectares; Bao Thang 141.15 hectares; Lao Cai city 123 hectares; Bao Yen 74.5 hectares; Bat Xat 68 hectares); broke and overflowed the banks of 28.35 hectares of fish ponds (Van Ban district 13.7 hectares, Bao Thang 8.2 hectares, Lao Cai city 5 hectares, Bao Yen 1.45 hectares)...
In addition, the flood also swept away 15 buffaloes (Van Ban 14, Sa Pa 1).
Regarding traffic, many locations on National Highways 4, 4D, 279, and 70 passing through the province have landslides and flooding, causing local traffic jams.
Many locations on Provincial Roads 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 156B, 160, 162 were eroded and flooded, causing traffic jams. In addition, 33 inter-district roads were eroded and flooded; 9 irrigation works were damaged.
Regarding medical and educational facilities, 7 schools in Simacai district were damaged; 1 medical station in Yen Son commune (Bao Yen) was flooded, affecting equipment and supplies.
Storms and lightning also damaged 4 broadcasting stations; broke 1 electric pole of the 35KV line on Na Nheo line, Khanh Yen Ha commune (Van Ban)...
It is forecasted that in the next 12 hours, Lao Cai province will continue to have moderate rain, heavy rain, and in some places very heavy rain. Floods on the Red River and Chay River will remain at a high level, 2.5-4.0 m above alert level 3.
Rising floodwaters can cause widespread inundation in many residential areas, schools, and roads in the districts of Bac Ha, Bao Yen, Bao Thang, Van Ban, and Lao Cai city.
Therefore, people need to monitor the development of rain and floods to have preventive measures.
