A house was seriously damaged by a fallen tree in Bạch Thông District in Bắc Kạn Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — A five-year-old child has been killed and eight people injured after prolonged heavy rainfall and thunderstorms hit the northern region over the weekend.

The downpour also caused tens of billions of đồng worth of damage to a large number of properties.

The Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control of Hà Giang Province said a five-year-old child was killed and two other people were injured due to the heavy rainfall.

A total of 30 houses and four village offices in Sủng Trái Commune in Đồng Văn District had their roofs blown off. Many welfare facilities were severely damaged and the total cost of repairs is estimated at VNĐ1 billion (US$39,290).

In Phú Thọ Province, storms injured one person in Bản Nguyên Commune in Lâm Thao District.

More than 890 houses, 19 schools, 12 medical centres, cultural houses, and State agencies were damaged. The province also experienced four telecommunications poles falling with 134 low-voltage power poles collapsing.

Nearly 200 hectares of rice, 311.8 hectares of corn and vegetables, 80 hectares of bananas and 137 hectares of forest were destroyed. More than 1,500 poultry died. Estimated total losses exceeded VNĐ34 billion ($1.3 million).

In Sơn La Province, thunderstorms and heavy rain caused roofs to collapse, injuring a person in Lọng Đán Village, Chiềng Bằng Commune, Quỳnh Nhai District. Additionally, 337 houses had roofs blown off or collapsed.

Phù Yên District experienced a complete power outage due to severe damage to the 110KV power line system. Many trees fell onto vehicles, causing local traffic congestion on sections of National Highway 37 and 43 passing through the district.

A tree falls on a five-seated car in Hà Nội's Quán Sứ Street. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

In the capital city of Hà Nội, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning caused 415 trees to fall. Some areas such as Mỹ Đức District and West Lake experienced hailstorms.

According to the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control of Bắc Kạn Province, as of 5pm on Sunday, thunderstorms and hailstorms had blown off roofs of 588 houses.

Strong winds and heavy rain also damaged 179.95 hectares of crops and affected 57 farms, three communal cultural houses, two commune offices and four schools. Estimated losses were approximately VNĐ4 billion ($157,160).

Tuyên Quang Province reported that thunderstorms damaged 117 houses.

Continuous heavy rain in Yên Bái Province injured two people and damaged 150 houses and two factories, along with 224 hectares of corn and forests.

The Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control of Cao Bằng Province reported that on the night of Friday and the early morning of Saturday, 903 houses in Nguyên Bình, Hòa An, Trùng Khánh, Quảng Hòa, and Hạ Lang districts had roofs blown off.

Thunderstorms toppled 131 hectares of corn and caused forestry trees to fall. The low-voltage power grid in Ngọc Động Commune in Quang Hòa District was also disrupted.

Thunderstorms accompanied by hailstorms in Thái Nguyên Province damaged 102 houses and other property damage. 50 hectares of rice, 82.7 hectares of flowers were destroyed and over 500 livestock and poultry died. Estimated total losses exceeded VNĐ5 billion ($196,450).

After the natural disasters, local authorities promptly directed relevant units to assess damage, mobilise on-site forces to address the consequences and offer condolences and support to affected families.

Local authorities also directed relevant units to maintain round-the-clock readiness, closely monitor weather forecasts and warnings, disseminate timely information to local people and prepare disaster prevention measures.

They are also asked to prepare with action plans to ensure the safety of lives and property in emergencies.

The National Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting Centre suggested that April and May mark the transitional period in the northern region, characterised by the intertwining of hot and cold air masses, often leading to severe thunderstorms accompanied by tornadoes, lightning and hail.

This dangerous weather is expected to continue in the coming period, potentially affecting production and livelihood activities. Localities nationwide need to implement timely response plans proactively, it said. — VNS