On Saturday, July 13, in Ha Giang province, a mountainous region in northern Vietnam, heavy rains triggered a landslide, burying a minibus and resulting in at least 11 deaths and 4 serious injuries.
According to reports from the Vietnamese state media VNA, local authorities in Ha Giang province reported that around 4 a.m. on July 13, a 15-seat minibus carrying 16 people was passing through National Highway 34 when it encountered a landslide. As passengers disembarked to try to help push the vehicle through the landslide area, thousands of cubic meters of mud rushed down from above, burying the minibus and its occupants.
Rescue teams from Ha Giang province, including soldiers and civilians, have recovered 15 people from the mud, with 11 confirmed dead and 4 seriously injured. Local media reports indicate that among the deceased is a young boy.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Minh Chinh has urgently ordered local authorities and relevant government agencies to respond swiftly to the disaster and prepare for further flooding and landslides.
In official communications issued to relevant ministries and some areas in the northern mountainous regions, Phan Minh Chinh expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
According to Reuters, data from the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center shows that the region received approximately 280 millimeters (11 inches) of rainfall in the past 24 hours. The agency has warned that Ha Giang province, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, and Yen Bai provinces could experience flash floods or landslides due to the flooding.
Vietnam is prone to frequent natural disasters, with floods and typhoons causing hundreds of deaths every year. According to government statistics, natural disasters last year resulted in 389 deaths and 668 injuries.
Since Saturday, Ha Giang province has been experiencing continuous heavy rain, leading to thousands of houses being partially submerged and significant damage to many roads.