On the afternoon of November 17, the People's Committee of La Lay commune (Quang Tri province) said that the locality is coordinating with functional forces and people to urgently deploy the search for the missing driver after a container truck was swept away by floodwaters while deliberately crossing the overflow during rising water.
According to initial information, at around 12 noon the same day, a container truck (license plate and driver's identity unknown) was moving from La Lay border gate to National Highway 9. At this time, the authorities at the nearby checkpoint were taking a lunch break when the driver arbitrarily opened the barrier and drove the car across the A Rong Tren spillway (La Lay intersection).
Due to the strong flood water from upstream, when the vehicle was halfway through the overflow, it was swept away the head into the abyss. The driver climbed out of the cabin and clung to the sides of the car waiting for rescue.
While the authorities organized the rescue, the floodwaters continued to flow strongly, causing the container truck to overturn and be swept away. Currently, the driver is missing, the search is still being urgently deployed.
According to the Quang Tri Provincial Civil Defense Command, in the past 12 hours, the area has experienced heavy to very heavy rain. By 11:30, heavy rain had caused flooding at 3 locations, isolating many areas; 190 households with 644 people were flooded; 5 landslides in La Lay and Huong Hiep; 3 schools had to stay home from school; more than 4,490 households had no power. The government has evacuated 217 households with 813 people. Floods on rivers continue to rise, the risk of widespread flooding and landslides is very high.
