On July 18, information from the People's Committee of Lao Cai province, heavy rain lasting from the night of July 16 to July 17 caused widespread landslides in Lao Chai, Khao Mang, Mu Cang Chai and Che Tao communes. As a result, a series of traffic routes were cut off, many houses were damaged, forcing many households to evacuate to ensure safety.
According to initial reports, Lao Chai commune is the locality that suffered the heaviest damage. Local authorities have urgently relocated 36 households in 9 villages located in areas at high risk of landslides to safe places.
Among them, 10 households were arranged to stay centrally at the house of one household in Lao Chai village, 3 households came to the community house of Lao Chai village, and the rest stayed with relatives.
Heavy rain has isolated Hang Gang, Hu Tru Linh and Dao Cu Nha villages due to landslides, causing many difficulties for access to the scene and damage statistics. 6 households were flooded with soil and rocks from the positive slope into their houses, and many inter-village roads were buried.
Notably, two low-voltage power poles in Hu Tru Linh village collapsed, disrupting power supply to the area.
In Khao Mang commune, heavy rain damaged 14 houses in 8 villages from 30-70%. Four households in Seo Ma Pan, Khao Mang and Hang Bla Ha B villages had to be urgently relocated due to the risk of landslides.
Many households living along National Highway 32 were also flooded with soil and rocks. Traffic infrastructure was seriously affected when the road from Trong La village to Hang A appeared 5 major landslide points, while Hang De Dai and Hang A villages experienced 3 subsidence points, losing the roadbed.
Many other inter-village roads were buried by soil and rocks, hindering travel and transportation of goods.
In Mu Cang Chai commune, heavy rain has affected at least 8 houses, 8 households have to be urgently relocated. On National Highway 32, 2 landslide points appeared with about 180m3 of soil and rock spilling onto the road surface, affecting traffic.
The inter-commune and inter-village road to Kim Noi also recorded 3 positive taluy landslide points with a total volume of about 423m3 of soil and rock.
The natural disaster also caused about 5m of the canal of the Mua Cho Giang irrigation project to collapse, affecting water supply for agricultural production.
Meanwhile, Che Tao commune recorded 29 affected houses. Due to many households living scattered in high mountainous areas, many roads being landslides and cut off, the locality has not yet been able to fully statistically determine the extent of damage.
Floods also caused hundreds of landslides on inter-commune and inter-village traffic routes, causing many road sections to be paralyzed, greatly affecting rescue and recovery efforts.
In particular, the bridge to Na Hang residential cluster (Ta Dong village) that was just completed was swept away by floodwaters.
Faced with the complicated developments of rain and floods, the Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee requested Mu Cang Chai commune and affected localities to strictly implement the "4 on-the-spot" motto, mobilize maximum forces and vehicles to respond; resolutely relocate people from areas at risk of landslides and flash floods, arrange temporary accommodation and ensure sufficient necessities.
Police and military forces are assigned to closely coordinate with local authorities in rescue and relief work, traffic diversion and ensuring security and order.
The Department of Construction is assigned to urgently review and handle landslide points on key traffic routes to soon restore safe travel.
Currently, localities continue to statistically assess damage, closely monitor weather developments and review high-risk areas to proactively plan responses.
The government recommends that people not move through areas at risk of landslides and flash floods and seriously comply with the instructions of functional forces to ensure safety for people and property.
