The mountainous province of Lao Cai was the hardest hit locality, with 45 fatalities. The horrific flash floods accompanied by rock and soil hit Phuc Khanh commune on October 10, burying an entire village with 35 households and 158 people.

As many as 18 people were found dead; 44 managed to escape the tragedy; 17 were rescued, and 77 were reported missing.  

Elsewhere, Yen Bai province reported 37 fatalities, Cao Bang province 29, and Quang Ninh province 13.

Most of the fatalities were caused by landslides and flash floods, and the figure is expected to rise in the coming days as heavy rain is set to continue falling and mountainous localities are facing a high risk of landslides and flash floods.

The natural disasters have also injured more than 800 people, said the agricultural ministry, in its report on September 11 morning.

Typhoon Yagi slammed into northern Vietnam on September 7, bringing strong winds and heavy rain and subsequently causing landslides and flash floods, especially in mountainous localities.  

Though Yagi has already dissipated, heavy rain is set to continue falling, threatening mountainous localities.

Meanwhile, water levels in many rivers in northern Vietnam such as the Lo, Thao, Thuong, Thai Binh, Hong, Hoang Long and Luc Nam rivers, are rising quickly, threatening local communities in riverbank and low-lying areas.

Meteorologists warned that rising floodwaters would flood low-lying areas along rivers and floodplains outside dikes, and lead to the breaching of riverbanks and erosion of dikes, which severely impacts vulnerable spots in the dike, embankment, and riverbank systems in localities such as Hanoi, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, and Ninh Binh.

VOV