Every moment in Muong Than (Lai Chau) is passing in a frantic race against time. Everyone is working tirelessly, doing their utmost to overcome the devastating impacts of the disaster.

On July 20, the race against time in Muong Than, Lai Chau, was still ongoing. Amid vast stretches of mud and collapsed houses, hundreds of officials, soldiers and local residents continued working relentlessly to search for missing people, clear debris, restore transport routes and rebuild the first homes.

Each task is being carried out with a sense of urgency and determination, with the goal of helping the disaster-hit area quickly return to normal life.

Amid the devastation, families who still have missing loved ones quietly set up temporary shelters on the riverbanks, hastily arranging makeshift altars amid the sea of mud and debris. Incense smoke rises each day, carrying their fragile hope that a miracle will happen and their loved ones will soon return home.

Local residents are still working tirelessly to search through the debris and recover whatever belongings remain after the flash flood.

By 9:00 a.m. on July 20, Muong Than Commune was the hardest-hit area in the recent floods. Statistics showed that the flash flood left six people dead, two missing and eight injured.

The disaster directly affected around 200 households, including 24 families whose homes were completely destroyed, 20 households with houses beyond repair, and 156 households located in flash flood-prone areas that were required to relocate to safer places.

In terms of production, around 300 hectares of rice fields, crops and aquaculture areas were buried under debris or washed away by the floods, leaving them with little chance of recovery. Many assets, food supplies and household belongings of local residents were also swept away or damaged by the floodwaters. Total losses are estimated at approximately VND 120 billion.

Immediately after the flash flood occurred, Lai Chau Province mobilized more than 1,000 people to participate in rescue and relief efforts, including 350 military officers and soldiers, 250 police officers and personnel, 12 forest rangers, along with around 400 local officials, militia members, youth union members and other on-site forces. Authorities also deployed 11 excavators and 40 vehicles of various types to support search and rescue operations, clear landslide debris and restore traffic connectivity.

To date, 1,686 people have been evacuated from dangerous areas, including 786 people who were directly assisted by authorities in relocating, while around 900 others moved on their own to relatives’ homes, community cultural centers, schools and other safe locations.

Regarding resettlement efforts, Lai Chau Province has completed the handover of land for the construction of new residential areas for 24 households whose houses were completely destroyed. The province has also developed plans to arrange long-term resettlement areas for around 200 affected households, ensuring their safety against the risks of flash floods and landslides in the coming period.

$ 1 = VND 26,490 - Source: Vietcombank.

Authors: Thanh Tien - Duc Binh

Translated by Kieu Chi