HANOI, VIETNAM – The human cost of devastating flash floods and landslides continues to climb in Vietnam's northern mountainous provinces, with officials confirming this afternoon that the death toll has risen to nine, while three other individuals remain missing. The provinces of Điện Biên and Sơn La have been ravaged by torrential rains, triggering a desperate race against time for search and rescue teams hampered by treacherous and inaccessible terrain.
Rescue operations are facing extreme difficulties as numerous remote villages have been completely cut off from the outside world. Roads have been washed away and bridges have collapsed, making land access impossible. "The terrain is fragmented and perilous," an official from the disaster response committee stated. "Reaching the missing and stranded is our top priority, but every hour presents a greater challenge."
Helicopter Lifeline for Isolated Communities
In many of the hardest-hit areas, military helicopters have become the sole lifeline for isolated communities. The Air Force of Army Corps 18 is currently conducting a series of high-risk missions to provide aid and evacuate stranded residents.
Pilots are navigating dangerous weather conditions to reach remote villages where people have been left clinging to survival. Harrowing images show helicopters hovering over vast expanses of floodwater to air-drop essential supplies, such as instant noodles and drinking water, to those trapped below. In more critical situations, rescue crews are airlifting individuals who are stranded on rooftops or small patches of land that have become precarious islands amidst the raging floodwaters.
New Threat: Mã River Approaches 50-Year Historic Flood Level
As rescue efforts continue in the northwest, a new and potentially catastrophic threat is emerging further south in Thanh Hóa province. The water level on the Mã River is rising at an alarming rate, prompting authorities to issue an emergency warning.
Forecasts predict that the flood peak on the river could surpass Alarm Level III—the highest level on Vietnam's warning scale—and potentially reach the historic flood crest recorded in 1975. A flood of this magnitude has not been seen in 50 years and would threaten widespread inundation and severe damage to communities along the riverbanks.
Local authorities have been instructed to prepare for a "worst-case scenario," which includes mobilizing forces for potential mass evacuations and reinforcing dikes and other critical infrastructure. The situation remains critical as Vietnam confronts a multi-front natural disaster.
