VietNamNet Bridge – Rock falls are threatening the lives of about 40 families living by the foot of a mountain in the northern province of Son La's Quynh Nhai District, according to Lo Van Thich, deputy head of the local Committee for Flood and Storm Control and Natural Disasters Relief.

Concerns over falling rocks were raised after a four-year-old died and her mother and two other neighbours were injured in the Ca Village, Chieng Khoang Commune when a huge rock suddenly fell onto their house last Thursday.

The house's roof was smashed by hundreds of small pieces of rock.

"I was in the middle of a party and I heard a loud blast that sounded like a bomb resounding into the mountain cliff," recalled father of the victim Ca Van Hoa, 25.

"I rushed home to find our houses had collapsed rocks. I managed to bring my wife out of the ruins and learnt from her that our daughter was still inside. I shouted out to her but there was no reply.

"Later, they found out she was hit by a large piece of rock before they dragged her out of the rubble. She died as her body was crushed. My wife is now in hospital. I don't know where to live to stay away from falling rocks," Hoa said in tears.

Falling rocks have also seriously damaged five other houses situated nearby.

Local authorities have directed the families to relocate to a new area in the commune.

Meanwhile, a flood occurred on Saturday in Lao Cai Province's Bao Yen District, killing a fifth grader and a 35-year-old woman. Two other children also went missing while 200 houses were seriously damaged in the flood.

Source: VNS