Typhoon Kujira, the first storm of the year brought heavy rains andcaused flash floods, costing human lives and property damage in northern provinces, including Son La and Lai Chau.

Son La was hit the hardest, with eight dead and three people missing,according to the provincial Steering Committee for Natural DisasterPrevention and Control and Search and Rescue on June 25.

More than 70 houses collapsed and nearly 400 houses were flooded. Morethan 500 hectares of rice paddies and crops were inundated; livestockwas washed away and local irrigation and road infrastructure wereseriously damaged.

Landslides disrupted trafficand brought down electricity supply in a number of communes in Moc Chau,Yen Chau, Luong La and Thuan Chau districts.

Lai Chau also suffered severe losses, with one dead, one injured andanother person missing. The storm also caused landslides and floods, anddamaged local infrastructure.

Deputy Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc signed an urgent notice on June 25 on acceleratingefforts in response to typhoon Kujira.

The Deputy PM called upon Son La province to continue searching forthe missing, providing food and drinking water for contaminatedhouseholds, and assisting the families of the deceased and injuredfinancially.

He asked local authorities to speedup the evacuation of residents in landslide-prone areas, ensure trafficsafety in flooded areas, and help local residents resume theirlivelihoods.

He also requested relevant ministries and bodies to join the response and relief efforts and prevent further damage.-VNA