The fatalities occurred in the northern mountainous provinces of Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La, and Thai Nguyen. Two of the victims were children.

Pictures published by state media showed devastating scenes of houses being engulfed in muddy water and roads blocked by soil and fallen trees. Access to some mountainous ethnic communities has also been severed.

Central parts of the country were also affected by landslides, with a police station in Dalat, located in the Central Highlands, being buried by falling soil, resulting in the loss of three policemen and one civilian back in July.

Vietnam's Central Highlands and southern regions have experienced higher-than-usual rainfall, ranging from 5% to 10% above average, since the rainy season began in May.

The northern part of the country faced its own challenges earlier this year, with record high temperatures and an unprecedented drought during May and June. These conditions led to rolling blackouts and sudden power outages, causing significant losses for local businesses and foreign manufacturers, as well as severely impacting crops.

Vietnam has experienced the devastating consequences of natural disasters before, with 175 people losing their lives to such events last year. Scientists have issued warnings that global warming is contributing to the intensification of extreme weather events. (ILKHA)