Vietnam's North Reels From Flash Floods: Search and Recovery Efforts Continue

Three days after the flash floods in Muong Than, Lai Chau province, northern Vietnam, rescue teams continue to search for missing persons, while residents are busy clearing their homes and salvaging remaining possessions. As of the afternoon of July 19, residents and authorities are working diligently to overcome the aftermath and continue searching for the missing. The floods in Muong Than have so far resulted in 4 deaths and 4 missing persons. Numerous houses, properties, and agricultural land have been buried, with estimated damages around 120 billion VND (approximately $5 million USD). Ms. Trieu Thi Sinh, from team 11 in Muong Than, living along National Highway 32, is busy moving usable blankets and household items to a temporary shelter. She stated that the flood washed away a part of her family's first floor. Currently, the six family members have been evacuated to a resettlement area about 6 km away. Items on the second floor of a house are being moved to safety. After the flood, the first floor of the house was severely damaged, almost buried under earth, rocks, and large logs swept by the torrent. Mr. Trieu Ton Nhat, 27, from team 11, Muong Than, standing in his severely damaged house, said his family was fortunate to have no human casualties but lost almost all their assets. Rice fields were washed away, and the first floor of his house was heavily damaged and buried under earth and large logs. "The house next door was completely swept away. The flood was too terrible," Nhat said. Lò Van Tiến, a 12-year-old 7th-grade student, quietly collects what remains after the flood. He was lucky to escape as he was visiting his grandmother's house when the flash flood occurred. Returning to see his longtime home destroyed, Tiến could not hide his sadness. Residents are cleaning up and searching for usable items in their homes. Hundreds of kilograms of rice belonging to residents in group 11, Muong Than, have been submerged for days. This was the entire harvest from the previous season, stored by the family to eat until the next harvest. Amidst the rain, Ms. Mai Trang holds the portrait of her missing niece, hoping that the authorities will find the victim soon. At the scene, many family members have been present for days, assisting in the search and awaiting news of their loved ones. Standing beside the foundation of his house, which was swept away by the flood, Mr. Hà Van Minh, 59, quietly points out to the search team the area where his wife is believed to be missing. For many days after the flash flood, he has remained at the scene, hoping to find his relative soon. Since 5 AM, Lieutenant Đinh Cao Hồ Nguyên, along with his service dog Javo from the 24th Intermediate School, Border Guard Command, has been continuously scanning areas suspected of having missing victims. According to Lieutenant Nguyên, Javo has participated in many major rescue operations such as the landslide in Làng Nủ (Lào Cai) and earthquakes in Turkey and Venezuela. "So far, Javo has detected three potential victim 'scent sources'. We are coordinating with forces to excavate and verify at these locations," Lieutenant Nguyên said. About a kilometer away, service dog Ô Lít is also assisting authorities in searching for missing persons. Ô Lít is Javo's "teammate" and has participated in many rescue missions before being deployed to Muong Than. A total of 6 service dogs have been mobilized to coordinate the search in areas suspected of having buried victims. Eleven excavators and about 40 specialized vehicles and equipment have also been brought to the scene to assist in excavation, victim search, and clearing earth and logs from the flood. Functional forces are meticulously searching every corner of houses and fallen trees to find victims and clear belongings for residents. More than 1,000 officers and soldiers from the army and police, along with local forces, have been mobilized to help residents quickly overcome the consequences and clear National Highway 32.