Houses in Đông Sang Commune in the northern mountainous province of Sơn La's Mộc Châu District are flooded following rain from Storm Wipha. Different places in northern mountainous province of Sơn La were submerged in the past two days due to the storm, the third to hit Việt Nam this year. The storm left at least five dead and caused damage to properties in many provinces. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Cường

HÀ NỘI — Five people have died and 14 are still missing after bad weather devastated Việt Nam.

Transport routes and homes were also damaged in the northern and north-central localities after Storm Wipha struck.

Despite its weakening to a tropical depression after its landfall in the northern coastal province of Quảng Ninh on Friday night torrential rains and strong winds continued to hit. 

Of the victims, the northern mountainous province of Bắc Kạn reported one death. The northern mountainous province of Điện Biên reported a nine-year-old boy dead and a five-year-old boy went missing after the two were swept away by flash flood at the local stream. The north-central province of Thanh Hóa had the most fatalities with three deaths and 13 missing people, according to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. Twelve missing people were from remote Quan Sơn District, which had been isolated after the floods until it was re-connected at noon yesterday.

Secretary of Quan Sơn District Party Committee Nguyễn Ngọc Tiến said some 500 soldiers and police officers had been mobilised to work with local people on search and rescue along the banks of Luồng River. 

Storm Wipha, the third tropical storm to hit Việt Nam this year, also caused damages to properties and public transport routes.

Some 100 houses, mostly in Thanh Hóa and Lạng Sơn provinces, were destroyed. Nearly 200 others have been damaged.  Cattle and poultry in Thanh Hóa and Sơn La provinces were reportedly killed or swept away.

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control also reported yesterday blockages caused by landslides and floods in Thanh Hóa, Điện Biên and Sơn La provinces (Thanh Hóa had 110 spots). Some 100 metres of roads in Bắc Kạn were damaged by landslides.

Almost 300,000 customers were plunged into darkness as the power went out in northern localities of Quảng Ninh, Hải Phòng, Bắc Giang, Hưng Yên and Hà Nội on Saturday.

Rescuers bring 15-year-old Nguyễn Minh Lâm, a Na Sá villager in the central province of Thanh Hóa' remote Quan Sơn District who suffered multi injuries caused by Storm Wipha, to rescue canoe to hospital. Lâm's village had been isolated for nearly two days until local authorities could reach the village on Sunday noon. — VNA/VNS Photo Trịnh Duy Hưng

Power was projected to be restored later the same day, except for some offshore areas, said deputy general director of Việt Nam Electricity (EVN) Ngô Sơn Hải. The EVN’s affiliates sent workers to repair power lines in areas affected by the storm. 

In Hà Nội, some 50 trees were uprooted or fell due to prolonged rain. No casualties were reported in the capital city, although many areas of Hà Nội were submerged in water.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Saturday issued the Official Telegraph No 937/CĐ-TTg on directing the focus on responding to and overcoming the consequences of Storm Wipha. The Prime Minister sent regards and condolences to families whose relatives are dead or missing.

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control organised a meeting with relevant agencies on Saturday to direct the response. Accordingly, the Military Zone 4, the forces stationed in the area, would deploy 807 officers and soldiers to support search and rescue activities and support people to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, especially in Thanh Hóa Province.

The Ministry of Transport directs the handling of incidents on the national highways, assisting the localities to overcome the landslides and congestion points on the main traffic routes. The Ministry of Industry and Trade directs the supply of 2,860 boxes of instant noodles, 39 boxes of dry food, and drinking water to isolated villages.

The Ministry of Information and Communications directs network operators to restore communications connection to areas that are being isolated in Thanh Hóa Province. — VNS