Border guards help clean up the mud from a street in Cao Bằng Province. — VNA/VNS Photos Chu Hiệu

CAO BẰNG — Floodwater has been receding slowly in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bằng on Thursday morning, leaving a few low-lying areas along the banks of the Bằng and Hiến rivers still submerged.

The momentous task of cleanup has begun, as people started to remove huge amount of mud and trash from the streets and from their houses, in the chaotic aftermath of the flooding triggered from extended downpours brought about by the circulation of Typhoon Matmo (Storm No.11).

Local women remove tarpaulins and sand bags used to minimise flood impacts.

Streets in Cao Bằng Province are filled with garbage and mud left behind by the floodwaters.

Hundreds of people gathered in residential areas to assist locals in cleaning houses, schools and public spaces.

They included military officers, police, self-defence militia, youth union members, volunteers and medical personnel.

Excavators are deployed to clean up mud from the streets.

The flood, induced by the circulation of Typhoon Matmo, has disrupted the daily life of many locals across the northern region.

Local police joins in the flood clean-up efforts.

Military officers use a large board to remove the mud from the street.

Members of the local youth union clean up the streets alongside local residents.

Local police help with the flood clean-up.

 The Cao Bằng Provincial People's Committee has urged local authorities to mobilise all resources and take decisive action to address the aftermath of the floods.

The focus is on environmental sanitation, stabilising livelihoods and restoring production for local people.

As of October 8, Cao Bằng Province reported one person was killed and two others injured in landslides. More than 7,500 houses were damaged or inundated, including 210 affected by landslides, while over 5,000 hectares of rice and crops were submerged.

Thirteen schools suffered damage – two had collapsed fences and 11 were flooded. Transport infrastructure was heavily hit, with 74 landslide sites, 17 flooded road sections, 145 rural roads affected, and 23 bridges damaged. Several irrigation and water supply facilities were destroyed or buried, and two medical stations were affected by landslides.

Many public offices and government buildings were also damaged. Total losses are estimated at over VNĐ1.5 trillion.— VNS