Torrential rains leave 6 dead, 1 missing in northern Vietnam

At least six people were killed, one is missing and three others were injured after torrential rains occurred in Vietnam's northern and north-central regions over the past few days, the Central Steering Committee on National Disaster Prevention and Control said Monday.

The rainfall, triggered by an inter-tropical convergence zone, reached some 200-400 millimeters in some areas, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA.

Among casualties, Vietnam's northern mountainous Lao Cai province reported two deaths, and one missing. Downpour-triggered flood left two kids swept away in northern mountainous Dien Bien province. Other two deaths were reported in northern Thai Nguyen and central Thanh Hoa provinces. Meanwhile, three people were injured by landslides in the northern mountainous Yen Bai province, said the committee.

• According to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, downpours would continue in the northern and north-central regions in the next few days with rainfall ranging between 70-200 millimeters.

Flooding in major cities and urban areas in capital Ha Noi, northern Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh and Hai Duong provinces was also warned while flash flood and landslide are forecast in the northern mountainous and north-central regions.
  [Xinhua -globaltimes.cn]
15/8/16