Heavy rain in northern Vietnam has caused flash floods and landslides that have resulted in the deaths of seven people, according to disaster officials and state media reports on Thursday.
Five fatalities were reported in Son La province, while two others were in Dien Bien. Rescue teams are currently searching for 10 individuals who are missing in the affected mountainous regions.
Tuoi Tre newspaper reported that early Thursday, flash floods in Muong Pon commune, Dien Bien, carried away 10 houses and damaged eight others.
Northern Vietnam has been experiencing heavy rainfall since Tuesday, with many areas, including the outskirts of Hanoi, inundated with muddy floodwater.
Vietnam is typically prone to heavy rains and associated flooding and landslides from June to November. However, scientists have warned that climate change is causing these extreme weather events to become more frequent and severe.
In mid-July, heavy rains triggered a landslide in Ha Giang province, which killed 11 people traveling in a van. Last year, natural disasters in Vietnam resulted in 169 deaths or missing persons.