A weeklong spell of rain in the northern province of Lai Châu has resulted in damages worth an estimated VNĐ8 billion (US$355,000). — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Duy

HÀ NỘI — A weeklong spell of rain in the northern province of Lai Châu has resulted in damages worth an estimated VNĐ8 billion (US$355,000).

The Lai Châu Steering Committee Office for Disaster Prevention and Rescue on Monday announced that the prolonged heavy rainfall, lasting from June 27 to 2pm July 3, severely disrupted transportation and caused losses to residents.

Flooding following the downpour washed away a bridge over the Nậm Chà spring, isolating Nậm Nhùn and Mường Tè districts.

A landslide on provincial roads 127 and 129 temporarily halted the flow of traffic between the centre of Nậm Nhùn District and its communes of Nậm Chà and Mường Mô.

The landslide also caused soil and rocks to fall on residents’ houses in Nậm Nhùn, Tam Đường and Mường Tè districts, forcing authorities to urgently evacuate affected households to safe areas, according to the Lai Châu disaster committee.

Heavy rain also washed away another 17 dykes, irrigation and canal structures, while a large area of paddy and vegetable fields were submerged.

Further, the downpour triggered the appearance of 10 sink holes in Nậm Loỏng Commune, of which four were located on the national highways while the rest were in residential areas.

Nậm Loỏng People’s Committee chairman Giàng A Tủa said authorities were filling the holes with rocks to ensure safety of the people and to resume traffic at the earliest.

Yên Bái also experienced a spell of heavy rain this time, with flooding killing one person and injuring another in Mù Cang Chải District on July 3. Forty-two houses scattered across the northern mountainous province were severely damaged. — VNS