Flash flood kills four, leaves four missing in northern Vietnam

A flash flood swept through a mountainous village in Vietnam's northern Lai Chau province on July 17, killing at least four people and leaving four others missing, state media reported. The disaster struck the village of Muong Than in the early hours of July 17, also injuring seven people, according to the state-run VNA agency. The floods were attributed to several consecutive days of intense rainfall across northern Vietnam. Images from the scene show streets covered in reddish mud and water, with large rocks and logs piled on a damaged road. Authorities are continuing search efforts for the missing individuals while assessing the damage caused by the downpours. Since July 15, heavy rains have triggered landslides and flash floods throughout the region. The government's disaster management agency warned that some northern Vietnamese areas could receive up to 250 millimeters of rain on July 18, increasing the risk of further landslides and flash floods in mountainous areas. Vietnam experiences a rainy and typhoon season annually from July to September, often leading to frequent floods and landslides, particularly in its northern and central provinces. In 2025, natural disasters, primarily floods, caused 489 deaths in Vietnam.