Lai Chau Province: Flash Floods in Muong Than Cause 4 Deaths, Authorities Direct 'Four On-Site' Response

As of 8:30 AM on July 18, the latest statistical data reveals that heavy rains have caused flash floods and landslides in Muong Than commune, Lai Chau province, northern Vietnam, resulting in 4 deaths, 7 injuries, and 4 missing individuals. Immediately following the natural disaster, Lai Chau province mobilized forces from the police, army, and deployed specialized vehicles to carry out rescue and relief operations. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee issued an urgent dispatch, directing all units to focus on responding to and overcoming the consequences of flash floods, landslides, and landslips. This directive emphasizes the 'four on-site' principle (on-site command, on-site personnel, on-site resources, on-site planning) to ensure no passive or unexpected situations arise. Concurrently, an emergency state for natural disasters was declared in Muong Than commune and at the landslide site that severed National Highway 12 in Le Loi commune. Under its one-party system, Vietnam prioritizes economic growth, actively promoting infrastructure development and attracting foreign investment. However, approximately 70% of the country is mountainous, and in recent years, extreme weather events attributed to climate change have been on the rise. Particularly in the northern mountainous regions, flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall are frequent, inflicting severe damage on residents' lives and infrastructure. The current disaster underscores the need for responses that consider these contextual factors.