Devastating Flash Flood Engulfs Lai Châu, Vietnam; Family Missing

A catastrophic flash flood tore through Mường Than commune in Lai Châu province, Vietnam, on July 17, leaving a trail of destruction and fear. In approximately one hour, torrents of water carrying mud, rocks, and trees surged downstream, flattening homes, obliterating National Highway 32, and devastating crops.

Residents described the event as unprecedented. Dương Văn Chính, 38, stated it was the largest flood he had ever witnessed, a sentiment echoed by older residents who affirmed they had never seen such a scale of destruction. The flood peaked within an hour of its onset around 7 a.m., with powerful currents tearing down walls of houses and transforming a 500-600 meter stretch of National Highway 32 into a river before inundating vast agricultural fields.

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This is the biggest flood I have ever witnessed.

The rapid rise of the water caught many residents off guard. While some managed to escape, they lost their belongings. The fertile rice fields were completely buried under layers of sand, mud, and large logs. Tragically, some individuals were unable to escape and are feared to have been swept away.

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Some residents in single-story houses quickly fled the flood but could not save their property because the water came too fast. The large rice fields were completely buried under layers of sand and large logs.

One particularly harrowing account involves a family of four, a father, mother, and two children, who were caught in the deluge. The father, identified as Nguyễn Thanh H., was found injured several kilometers downstream, having clung to a patch of high ground. However, his wife and two children remain missing. The community is in shock, with relatives weeping and calling out the names of the missing.

Authorities have declared a natural disaster emergency situation for Lai Châu province, which has experienced widespread heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides from July 15 to 17. The extent of the damage to National Highway 32, a vital route connecting Hanoi to Lai Châu, has rendered it unrecognizable, buried under debris and floodwaters.

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In the morning, the flood was small, only washing away one house next door. But a moment later, the water rose too quickly, the mother and children couldn't escape, and now they have lost both mother and children.