Landslide in Lang Nu: 19 more missing people confirmed alive

At noon on September 15, according to information from the Search and Rescue Command Center in Lang Nu village (Phuc Khanh commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai), by 11:00 a.m. the same day, the specialized agencies and units of the district, commune, and village had conducted a comprehensive and detailed review.

Accordingly, the total number of deaths and missing people to date is 66 cases, a decrease of 29 cases compared to the initially announced figures.

Currently, the number of people still missing is determined to be 14 people, down from the updated data on September 14. Previously, according to statistics up to the afternoon of September 14, the number of people missing was 33 people.

According to the explanation of the authorities, the decrease in deaths and missing cases is due to some cases not fully declaring to the local authorities.

Some people heard the news but were afraid of danger so they did not dare to return. Some people lived separately and worked far away but their parents did not know, so they reported them missing at first. In addition, at the time of the flash flood, communication was interrupted and traffic was cut off, leading to a lack of time to collect statistics and reports.

The total number of households in the area affected by flash floods is 33 households, 40 houses (because 7 households already have their own houses but have not separated).

This is home to 168 people (an increase of 10 people compared to the original due to some cases of people working far away that have not been fully updated).

The number of people safe up to now is 87 people; the number of injured people being treated in hospital is 15 people.

On the morning of September 15, forces including the army, police, militia, people and many vehicles were still mobilized to actively search for the remaining missing victims.

Previously, at around 6am on September 10, a terrifying flash flood flattened 40 houses of Lang Nu village with 168 people. Of these, 3 were over 70 years old, 18 were under 6 years old, 14 were under 14 years old, and the rest were between 15 and 69 years old.

On September 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the scene of Lang Nu village to visit people and encourage search forces.

Working with ministries, branches and Lao Cai provincial authorities, the Prime Minister directed to urgently find a location to rebuild a new residential area for people who lost their homes in the flash flood, to be completed by December 31 at the latest; the new residence must be safer and better than the old one.