Muddy floodwater swallows mountain highway in Vietnam

Prolonged heavy rain sent floodwaters surging onto National Highway 32 in northern Vietnam, cutting off several residential areas and prompting the deployment of more than 200 police officers and personnel to evacuate residents.

On the morning of July 17, fast-moving water covered National Highway 32 in the Ban Chit area of Muong Than Commune, Lai Chau Province, making the road impassable. Several households were surrounded by floodwater and had to be helped by authorities to move people and belongings to safety.

Tran Linh Chi, a resident of Doi 9 in Muong Than Commune, said she had never seen flooding this severe. The water reached more than a meter in places and carrying away soil, rocks, trees and residents' property.

National Highway 32 links Hanoi with Phu Tho, Lao Cai and Lai Chau. The stretch through Muong Than runs between a mountain range rising more than 1,000 m on one side and a valley of rice fields on the other. Sustained heavy rain has sent water pouring off the peaks into the valley.

Lai Chau provincial police said the rain triggered flash floods and landslides at multiple points along National Highway 32 through Pac Ta and Muong Than communes, paralyzing traffic.

Authorities have not been able to fully account for the damage or the number of people affected because many areas remain cut off.

The provincial police mobilized more than 200 officers and personnel for the response. The Mobile Police Division alone deployed three vehicles, 50 life buoys, 70 life jackets and a heavy-lift drone for rescue work.

A motorbike is swept away in Muong Than Commune on the morning of July 17, 2026. Photo courtesy of Muong Than Commune People's Committee

At the scene, personnel helped residents evacuate deeply flooded areas and moved belongings to safety while diverting traffic and setting up warning posts at deep water and at points at risk of landslides.

Traffic Police Team No. 3 worked with commune police and road management units to control traffic, keeping people and vehicles out of dangerous areas, and to help clear the aftermath.

Lai Chau provincial police mobilize hundreds of personnel for the response. Photo courtesy of Lai Chau provincial police

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said a low-pressure trough running across northern Vietnam brought heavy rain to Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Lao Cai over the past 24 hours.

Rainfall was exceptionally high in some places, reaching 206 mm in Phuc Than, Lai Chau; 141 mm in Sin Chai, Dien Bien; 272 mm in Nam Pam, Son La; and 305 mm in Che Tao, Lao Cai. Soil moisture in many areas is near or at saturation, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides.