Massive Rockslide Threatens Homes in Vietnam's Lang Son Province Amidst Flood Crisis

A significant rockslide struck Chi Lang district in Vietnam's Lang Son province late on August 23, endangering 14 households. The incident, occurring around 11:30 PM, involved large boulders rolling down onto residential areas, causing severe damage.

This rockslide is part of a broader pattern of devastation caused by Typhoon No. 4 and prolonged heavy rainfall across Lang Son province. As of August 23, the storm and subsequent floods have impacted over 4,000 homes, with 362 suffering damage from landslides or wind. Additionally, nearly 2,700 hectares of crops have been submerged or destroyed, and livestock losses are significant, with over 100 cattle and 6,000 poultry reported dead.

Roads have also been severely affected, with approximately 903 points of landslide and flooding causing localized blockages. This has hampered transportation and emergency response efforts in several areas. Authorities have been actively evacuating over 2,600 households from flood-prone and landslide-risk zones to safer locations.

Forecasters predict continued heavy to very heavy rainfall across Lang Son province through August 25, with moderate to heavy showers expected on August 25-26. The rising water levels in rivers, exacerbated by ongoing rainfall and water releases from the Ban Lai reservoir, increase the risk of further flooding, particularly in areas along the Ky Cung and Trung rivers.