Three Children Die in Flash Flood in Son La Province

Three children, aged between 3 and 14, have died in a flash flood in Son La Province, northern Vietnam, following heavy rainfall on the evening of August 1. Local media reported that the children were swept away while traveling on a motorcycle. Their bodies were discovered after an extensive search operation. The incident occurred in Gia Phu Commune. Around 7 PM, a 14-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, and a 3-year-old girl were on a single motorcycle when they were caught in a flash flood triggered by intense rain. Residents discovered the motorcycle stuck on a roadside railing and, unable to locate the children, immediately alerted the authorities. Local authorities and families launched an immediate search. Around 8 PM, the body of the 5-year-old boy was found in an old stream about 700 meters from the site where the motorcycle was found. Two hours later, the body of the 14-year-old girl was discovered in a river nearly 3 kilometers away. The Son La Provincial People's Committee formed a working group to direct the search efforts. Approximately 125 people, including police, militia, local officials, and residents from several surrounding communes, were mobilized for the search. After an overnight search, the body of the 3-year-old girl was found around 9 AM on August 2 in the downstream area of a stream in Gia Phu Commune. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts rainfall of 10-30 mm in the northern region on August 2, with some areas exceeding 90 mm. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue for several days in the northern provinces and Thanh Hoa, increasing the risk of flash floods in small rivers, landslides in mountainous areas, and flooding in low-lying regions.