Sơn La province faces severe floods and landslides after heavy rain

Heavy rain on the night of 10 July and the morning of 11 July dumped 200 mm + of rain in Sơn La province, with Mường La recording up to 236 mm (later reports 244 mm). The downpours flooded roads, caused landslides and damaged houses and school buildings. In Mường Trai a temporary school structure collapsed, and a 35 kV power line fell, cutting electricity to 4,199 customers. Provincial authorities mobilised police, fire‑rescue, army units and local officials to clear blocked drainage, remove debris, assist residents in moving property and provide temporary shelter. The Hòa Bình hydropower dam opened a flood‑gate to release water and reduce upstream risk. The disaster spread to neighbouring northern provinces—Lào Cai, Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Tuyên Quang and Thái Nguyên—where landslides and flooding also occurred. Reported damage includes 197 houses collapsed or severely damaged, 90 homes relocated, 259 ha of rice fields flooded in Sơn La, and an estimated material loss of about 31 billion VND (≈ US$1.3 million) in the province. One person was injured by a landslide‑triggered rockfall. Weather forecasts predict continued moderate to heavy rain across the region for the next 12‑24 hours, with a high risk of further flooding and landslides, prompting authorities to complete evacuation plans and stockpile relief supplies by 15 July.