Friday, November 22, 2024

Flash flood kills 30 people after sweeping away hamlet in Vietnam

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A flash flood has killed 30 people and left dozens more missing after sweeping away an entire hamlet in northern Vietnam.

A torrent of water from a mountain buried Lang Nu – which was home to 35 families – in mud and debris, reported state broadcaster VTV.

Only about a dozen people are currently known to have survived, while the search is continuing for around 65 others.

It comes as the number of deaths from Typhoon Yagi and its aftermath climbed to 179 on Wednesday.

Another 145 people are missing, according to government estimates.

Floods and landslides have caused most of the deaths, many of which have come in the northwestern Lao Cai province, which borders China.

Vietnam’s capital of Hanoi evacuated thousands of people living near the swollen Red River as its waters rose to a 20-year high.

“My home is now part of the river,” said Nguyen Van Hung, 56, who lives in a neighbourhood next to the river.

Power supplies have also been cut off by officials in some parts of Hanoi due to safety concerns as forecasters warned of more rain in the coming days.

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Home sinks in Thailand floods

In Thailand, at least two people were killed and hundreds were left stranded after heavy rainfall swept through two northern provinces.

Rivers were overflowing, causing flooding and mudslides, the authorities said.

The adverse weather has had an impact on about 9,000 households in the country, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said.

She added: “Water currents are still strong. All agencies are prepared and when the current eases, they will go in immediately.”

Rescue workers help stranded people from a flooded area at the border town of Mae Sai, following the impact of Typhoon Yagi, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Pic Reuters
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Northern Thailand has been badly hit by the extreme conditions. Pic: Reuters

People wade through floodwaters following the impact of Typhoon Yagi in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, September 11, 2024, in this still image taken from a video. Tubjaotak Task Force, Pha Muang Force/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
Image:
People wade through floodwaters in Thailand. Pic: Reuters

Rescue workers help stranded people from a flooded area at the border town of Mae Sai.
Pic Reuters
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Many people have been rescued in parts of Thailand. Pic: Reuters

The deaths in Vietnam and Thailand come as the search for survivors continues – and as more people report being stranded by the conditions.

Nguyen Van Luong, who works in a hotel in Vietnam, said he could not return home since the route to his village was too dangerous.

He said: “The road is badly damaged and landslides could happen anytime.

“My family told me to stay here until it’s safer to go home.”

Rescuers work amidst flooding following the impact of Typhoon Yagi in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, September 11, 2024, in this still image taken from a video. Tubjaotak Task Force, Pha Muang Force/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
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Rescuers work to reach survivors in Thailand. Pic: Reuters

A woman wades through a flooded street following the impact of Typhoon Yagi, in Thai Nguyen City, Vietnam, September 11, 2024. REUTERS/Thinh Nguyen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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People have been forced to wade through flooded streets in Vietnam. Pic: Reuters

Downpours have continued during the last few days and rivers remain dangerously high, while the heavy rains have also damaged factories.

Yagi, with winds of up to 92mph, was the strongest typhoon to hit Asia this year.

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