At least four people have died and four others remain missing following flash floods and landslides in northern Vietnam’s mountainous regions, officials reported on Saturday. The flooding occurred early Friday in Muong Than village, Lai Chau province, after several days of heavy rain affected multiple parts of northern Vietnam.

In addition to fatalities, seven individuals were injured, and significant damage has been reported across the area. Photos accompanying official reports showed mud and floodwaters covering streets, with debris such as rocks and wood obstructing damaged roads. Since Wednesday, persistent heavy rains have triggered landslides and floods that have disrupted infrastructure, damaging roads, power grids, and hundreds of homes. Agricultural losses include the inundation of 238 hectares of crops, mainly rice, across four northern provinces, along with the death or loss of livestock and poultry.

Vietnam’s disaster and dyke management authority has deployed 500 rescuers to conduct search and rescue operations for the missing and to evacuate residents in locations deemed vulnerable to further landslides. Officials have issued warnings for continued heavy rainfall, with some areas predicted to receive up to 250 millimeters of rain on Saturday, raising concerns about additional flooding and landslides.

Natural disasters, particularly floods, are common in Vietnam during the rainy season, which peaks between July and September. Government data indicate that floods and related natural events claimed 489 lives across the country last year. Between January and June of the current year, at least 30 people have died due to natural disasters, with economic losses estimated at over $21.7 million.

While the rainy season’s pattern is well-established, Vietnamese authorities and climate experts have noted that human-induced climate change is contributing to an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, exacerbating the impacts of flooding and landslides in the region. Emergency response efforts continue amid forecasts for more heavy rain in the coming days.