Vietnam’s military helicopter rescues flood-stranded residents 

THE HANOI TIMES — A military helicopter from the Vietnam People’s Army successfully rescued eight residents trapped by rising floodwaters in the northern mountain province of Son La on August 1.

According to the Rescue and Relief Department under the Ministry of National Defense, the victims were stranded on a rooftop in a riverside sandbank along the Ma River, where water levels had surged over three meters due to sudden flash floods.

In response, the department coordinated with the Air Defense – Air Force Command and Brigade 18 to deploy helicopter VN-8624 from Hanoi.

The entire operation took about 30 minutes, with all eight individuals safely evacuated.

Rescue footage of stranded residents. Video: QDND

Due to prolonged heavy rain from the night of July 31 to the morning of August 1, upstream water surged, causing a sudden rise in the Ma River as it flowed through communes of the former Song Ma District.

Rainfall was recorded at 137mm in Sam Kha and 132mm in Lang Chieu. In Pung Banh Commune, 10 villages were isolated by water levels reaching up to two meters. A key bridge over the Nam Cong stream to the Nam Cong 3 hydropower station was also swept away.

Many households in communes such as Muong Lan, Bo Sinh, Muong Lam, Sop Cop, and Chieng Khoong were forced to evacuate due to the rising floodwaters.

The Ministry of National Defense affirmed its ongoing coordination with local authorities to ensure the safety of affected residents.