Panoramic view of thousands of houses submerged in historic flood in Lang Son

Rising floodwaters caused historic flooding that submerged thousands of houses in many communes in Lang Son province - Photo: TRUONG SON

By this morning, October 9, floodwaters in Van Nham, Huu Lung, Yen Binh communes... in Lang Son province began to recede, but slowly. Some villages were still completely isolated, hundreds of houses in Tan Nhien village (Van Nham commune) were flooded almost to the roof.

Two days ago, the Bac Khe 1 hydroelectric dam broke, water overflowed, and heavy rains from the previous days caused the flood to rise rapidly, causing severe flooding in Bac Khe commune, about 10km away, with water levels 2-3m high in some places.

The floods have affected more than 3,000 households, some houses collapsed, nearly 3,000 households were flooded from 30cm to 2m and isolated.

By the morning of October 9, many places were still in a state of traffic disruption, and hospitals were also flooded, reaching half the first floor. The lives of thousands of households were disrupted, facing countless difficulties.

Yesterday, four helicopters of Regiment 916, Air Defense - Air Force took off from Hanoi to deliver nearly 9 tons of goods to Yen Binh, Van Nham, Huu Lung and Tuan Son communes, where thousands of households are surrounded by floodwaters.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc also inspected and encouraged people and forces to prevent floods caused by storm No. 11 in Lang Son province.

According to weather forecast information on October 8, in the upstream area, flood on Trung River at Huu Lung station, Lang Son peaked in the early afternoon and is decreasing very slowly.

It is forecasted that this morning the water level will still exceed the historical flood level of 1986 by more than 1 meter and be about 4.7 meters above the alarm level 3. The flood situation is improving very slowly, it will take at least 2-3 more days for the flood water to recede quickly.

People in Huu Lung district (old) had to flee two historic floods in 1971 and 1986, the water also submerged many roofs. But according to the elderly couple over 70 years old, the flood that rolled down on the night of October 7 was even bigger, the water rose quickly and high, almost all the houses in Tan Nhien village, Van Nham commune were flooded, the water rose almost to the electric poles, and flooded the village gate.

Rising floodwaters caused historic flooding that submerged thousands of houses in many communes in Lang Son province - Photo: TRUONG SON

Nearly 200 houses in Tan Nhien village, Van Nham commune are still submerged in floodwater this morning - Photo: THAN HOANG

Floodwaters rise in Van Nham commune, Lang Son province - Photo: THAN HOANG

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien's two children (Tan Nhien village, Van Nham commune, Lang Son province) and three children from a neighbor's house, including a 5-month-old child, are still trapped in the attic of a house - Photo: NONG LOAN

Houses with only tiled roofs visible in floodwaters in Van Nham commune - Photo: THAN HOANG

Houses in Huu Lung commune were flooded up to the roof - Photo: THAN HOANG

A resident lies on the roof when floodwaters have reached the roof - Photo: Provided by residents

Tan Nhien village gate - Photo: THAN HOANG

Children in Tan Nhien village, Van Nham commune were taken to a neighbor's house on the highest hill in the village after being stuck in the flood for a night - Photo: THAN HOANG

A child is taking temporary shelter at a neighbor's house on the highest hill in the village, bringing his bicycle out to the playground - Photo: THAN HOANG