Heavy rain triggers road inundation in Vietnam’s Lao Cai

An official from the Lao Cai Ward People's Committee told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper the same day that heavy rainfall struck the ward, flooding some routes in the morning.

In some locations, runoff from steep hillsides surged into lower-lying areas, inundating homes on both sides of roads.

Provincial Road 156, which connects Lao Cai and Bat Xat, became impassable as floodwaters rose, forcing vehicles to halt.

Task forces worked alongside residents to move household belongings and valuables to higher ground.

As of Monday morning, no casualties had been reported, said the official.

Videos and photos widely shared on social media showed torrents of muddy water sweeping through streets in several areas in the ward.

Powerful currents left numerous vehicles stranded, while several motorcyclists were knocked over by the rushing water as they attempted to cross flooded sections.

Showers and scattered thunderstorms hit the northwestern region, Tuyen Quang Province, the northern coastal provinces, and Thanh Hoa and Nghe An Province in north-central Vietnam on Sunday night and early on Monday morning, according to the national weather center.

Some areas experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall.

Among the highest recorded rainfall totals were 137 mm in Lieu Do in Lao Cai Province, and 114 mm at Xuan Giang 1 in Tuyen Quang Province.

These localities are forecast to continue seeing showers and scattered thunderstorms through Monday and overnight.

Meteorologists warned that rainfall exceeding 100 mm within three hours could trigger flash floods on small rivers and streams, landslides in mountainous areas, and severe flooding in low-lying urban and rural zones.

The national weather center also cautions that the current spell of localized heavy rain and thunderstorms is likely to persist across northern Vietnam, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An for several more days.