According to initial reports, mud and stone destroyed many houses in Ne village, Hua La commune. Three people living in a house owned by Mr Mua died immediately, but his wife and son have been brought to a local hospital for treatment.

Rescue workers are trying to retrieve the dead and evacuate survivors from danger areas. However, damaged roads and rising floodwaters are hampering their rescue efforts. Many places in Son La town remain under water.

Floodwaters on September 26 also cut off many residential areas and roads in Son Dong and Luc Ngan districts of Bac Giang province. Five people were reportedly dead or missing. Many places in Phuong Son commune, Luc Ngan district, were 1m deep under water. More than 600 households in An Phu and Xuan An villages were completely cut off from the rest of My An commune.

The Bac Giang provincial weather bureau warned that floodwaters would exceed the third alert level on September 27. Provincial authorities have mobilised rescue forces to move people and their valuables out of the flooded areas and provide them with necessities.

In Quang Ninh province, heavy downpours accompanied by strong winds washed away two households in Na Ech village, Huc Dong commune, and submerged another house nearby, leaving the female owner and his son stranded on the rooftop waiting for rescue workers.

Rising floodwaters are threatening the lives of local people in Dong Trieu district, with many houses 80cm deep under water. More than 100 houses along the Cau Lim stream, Mao Khe district, were submerged. All tours around Ha Long Bay – a world heritage site – were suspended.