At least six people have died and two others remain unaccounted for after storm Bebinca swept through the northern and north central regions of Vietnam on early August 17.

A road is damaged after heavy rain in Muong Lat district, Thanh Hoa province

Four of the dead victims were in the north central province of Nghe An while the northern mountainous province of Son La and the north central province of Thanh Hoa each recorded one death. Son La and Nghe An also reported two missing as of the end of August 17, according the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Over 20 houses collapsed, 1,200 others were flooded, and 200 families were evacuated as a result of flooding in Son La, Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.

The natural disaster also washed away almost 7,400 head of livestock in Nghe An and affected over 720ha of aquatic farming in the localities.

Landslides on several stretches of national highways and local roads in Son La, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An have also blocked transport.

In Nghe An province, water levels in local rivers rose quickly, causing inundation in Quy Hop, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, Que Phong and Ky Son districts.

“The inundation is more severe than in previous storms,” said Vo Sy Son, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quy Hop district.

Flooding and landslides on a large scale occurred in Chau Ly, Chau Thanh and Chau Hong communes, isolating many villages in these areas. Particularly, spillways in Chau Ly commune were all flooded, totally blocking off nearby villages.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Nghe An province received up to 280mm of rain.

Meanwhile, the districts of Lang Chanh and Ba Thuoc in Thanh Hoa province have been put on high alert of flash floods and landslides.

Downpours have also reportedly hit the northern provinces of Lang Son, Hoa Binh and Yen Bai. The districts of Cao Loc, Loc Binh and Chi Lang in Lang Son; Van Chan, Tram Tau, Nghia Lo and Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai; and Da Bac, Mai Chau and Lac Thuy in Hoa Binh all have a high risk of landslides and flash floods.

Typhoon Bebinca weakens, but leaves villages submerged in water

The districts of Lang Chánh and Bá Thước in Thanh Hóa Province have also been put on high alert of flash floods and landslides. 

Typhoon Bebinca weakened to a tropical low-pressure system when it made landfall in Việt Nam on Friday, but heavy rains left severe consequences in the provinces of Sơn La, Thanh Hoá and Nghệ An.

At least seven have died or gone missing due to flooding as an impact of the storm, according to initial reports from the three affected provinces. Four of the victims were in the central province of Nghệ An whilst Sơn La reported one death and one missing.

Water levels in local rivers rose quickly causing inundation in Nghệ An’s Quỳ Hợp, Con Cuông, Tương Dương, Quế Phong and Kỳ Sơn districts, causing disruption to local residents.

The districts of Lang Chánh and Bá Thước in Thanh Hóa Province have also been put on high alert of flash floods and landslides.

“The inundation is more severe than in previous storms,” said Võ Sỹ Sơn, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Quỳ Hợp District in Nghệ An Province.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Nghệ An Province received up to 280 millimetres of rain.

Flooding and landslides on a large scale occurred in Châu Lý, Châu Thành and Châu Hồng communes, isolating many villages in these areas. Particularly, spillways in Châu Lý Commune were all flooded, totally blocking off nearby villages.

“Some parts of the district have experienced the most serious flooding in the past 30 years,” said Nguyễn Đình Tùng, chairman of Quỳ Hợp District’s People’s Committee.

In Kỳ Sơn District’s Mỹ Lỹ Commune, 19 houses were reported to have flooded, four of which are totally immersed in water.

Due to rising water levels, hydropower plants in Nghệ An Province, including Nậm Mô Reservoir in Kỳ Sơn District, Châu Thắng Reservoir in Quỳ Châu District and Bản Vẽ Reservoir in Tương Dương District, started to discharge water on Thursday evening.

No reports of damage have been made.

Heavy rain yesterday also reportedly hit the northern provinces of Lạng Sơn, Hòa Bình and Yên Bái. The districts of Cao Lộc, Lộc Bình and Chi Lăng in Lạng Sơn Province, Văn Chấn, Trạm Tấu, Nghĩa Lộ and Mù Căng Chải in Yên Bái Province, and Đà Bắc, Mai Châu and Lạc Thủy in Hòa Bình all have a high risk of landslides and flash floods.

The forecasting centre has warned of more torrential rains in Nghệ An and Thanh Hóa over the next few days. 

VNA/VNS