Typhoon Matmo leaves seven dead and missing in northern Vietnam
Typhoon Matmo, the 11th storm has hit Vietnam so far this year, has brought torrential rains and strong thunderstorms to northern localities.
THE HANOI TIMES — Heavy rains and floods triggered by Typhoon Matmo have left three people dead and four others missing in northern Vietnam as of 7:30 PM on October 7, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Nearly 5,000 houses were flooded or damaged in the northern provinces of Lao Cai, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh and the central province of Thanh Hoa. Whereas, over 1,600 houses were isolated due to flooding and landslides, mainly in Lang Son and Thai Nguyen. Nearly 9,500 hectares of crops were submerged and about 43,000 poultry were killed or swept away.
A hill has collapsed, blocking the surface of National Highway 70 through Ban Phiet in the northern province of Lao Cai. Photo: Lao Cai Newspaper
Widespread flooding in the northern province of Cao Bang. Photo: Cao Bang Newspaper
The traffic system in the northern mountainous and midland region is being severely affected with 493 landslides, flooding and traffic jams in the provinces of Lang Son, Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh and Thanh Hoa.
Meanwhile, torrential downpours flooded many parts and major roads of Hanoi, forcing residents to wade through calf-deep water. Downtown wards have been particularly affected, with drainage struggling to handle the volume of rain. Most schools in the capital closed or shifted to online teaching, while flights to and from Noi Bai International Airport have been delayed or rescheduled.
Duong Dinh Nghe Street in the west of Hanoi is deeply flooded. Photo: VNA
The situation reported in the northern province of Lang Son comes with the collapse of Bac Khe 1 hydropower dam in Tan Tien Commune on the afternoon of October 7. According to Nguyen Manh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the commune People’s Committee, prolonged heavy rainfall on October 6 and 7 caused a rapid rise in water levels.
"The dam failure resulted from prolonged heavy rainfall, which caused the water flow to surge to 1,572 cubic meters per second, breaking a section of the concrete at the water intake. The collapse also destroyed the central control room and damaged equipment," said Tuan.
He reported that earlier in the morning, competent forces inspected the dam and detected cracks, indicating a high risk of rupture. Warnings were issued immediately, and around 300 households in four downstream areas were safely evacuated.
Bac Khe 1 hydropower dam collapses due to prolonged heavy rainfall. Photo: Lang Son Newspaper
Police, military, medical and rescue teams have been mobilized for evacuation and emergency support. However, access to the affected area remains difficult as several sections of National Highway 3B have been cut off due to severe flooding.
Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, led a working group to inspect the flood situation in Thai Nguyen and Lang Son, especially the area where the Bac Khe 1 hydropower dam broke.
At the same time, the State authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation and prioritizing safety while preventing further risks.
Last week, Typhoon Bualoi devastated Vietnam’s northern and central regions, killing at least 51 people and causing approximately VND16 trillion (US$606 million) of damage.
The National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) has forecast that up to three more storms would hit Vietnam by late 2025.
In Huu Lung Commune of Lang Son Province, deep flood forces people to evacuate urgently. Photo: Lang Son Newspaper
