Landslides blocks traffic in Điện Biên

ĐIỆN BIÊN — Landslides have blocked parts of National Highway 4H in the northern province of Điện Biên due to heavy rain that has been falling since Monday.

Lương Thanh Tùng, director of Road II Company, said the road should be cleared by Tuesday.

Nguyễn Ngọc Sơn, an official from Nậm Pồ District, said two landslides had hit the road linking the district’s centre to National Highway 4H.

Khoàng Văn Van, an official in the district’s Chà Nưa Commune, said that heavy rains had caused record floods in the area that had damaged crops and swept mud into residential areas, schools and State office buildings. Students had been moved to safer areas.

The ongoing rain had made it difficult to start the clean-up operation and posed the risk of further floods, he said.

In the mountainous district of Tủa Chùa, landslides were reported in the communes of Mường Báng and Sính Phình.

According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, northern and central provinces can expect heavy rain until Friday of up to 250-350mm. — VNS