8 Killed in Floods and Landslides in Vietnam

Vietnam has experienced heavy rainfall and floods in recent days, leading to the deaths of eight people, the authorities reported on Monday.

The country has been facing severe rains since the beginning of August, following several heatwaves and months of continuous drought.

In the northern regions of the country, eight people, including at least two children, lost their lives in provinces such as Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La, and Thanh Hoa due to the mountainous landslides last week.

The severe weather conditions caused damage to hundreds of houses and destroyed cultivated areas, as reported by the Disaster Management Agency on its website.

Local media have shared images of homes swept away by torrents and roads blocked by uprooted trees. Access to these mountainous towns has been severely restricted.

Earlier in July, there were also reports of landslides in central Vietnam. In the city of Da Lat, three police officers and a civilian lost their lives when floods inundated a police station.

According to the authorities, rainfall in the highlands of central and southern Vietnam has exceeded its normal levels by 5 to 7% since the beginning of the rainy season in May.

In northern Vietnam, extreme temperatures and unprecedented drought in May and June resulted in repeated power outages, causing significant losses to local and foreign factories in the region.

Moreover, the extensive damage extended to crops as well. Last year, Vietnam reported 175 deaths due to natural disasters.

Scientists warn that extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.