8 Killed in Flash Floods, Landslides in Vietnam

According to disaster officials, landslides and flash floods in northern Vietnam have killed at least eight people.

Heavy rains that started in August have wrecked hundreds of houses and devastated crops after months of extended heatwaves and drought.

The Hanoi-based disaster control organization reported eight fatalities last week, including at least two children, in the northern highland provinces of Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La, and Thai Nguyen.

Pictures of homes collapsing into puddles of mud and highways being blocked or divided by landslides and downed trees were featured in state media.

Some ethnic villages in mountains are now inaccessible.

Additionally, landslides have occurred in the nation's center.

Three police officers and one civilian were murdered in the Central Highlands village of Dalat in July when a police station was buried by collapsing earth.

Since the rainy season started in May, the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam have had 5–10% more rain than typical.

Rolling blackouts and unexpected power disruptions in northern Vietnam in May and June as a result of record-breaking high temperatures and an extreme drought caused significant losses among local businesses and international industries.

Crops were severely impacted as well.

Last year, natural disasters killed 175 people in Vietnam.

Scientists have warned extreme weather is being intensified by global warming.