DIEN BIEN, Vietnam — At least eight people have been killed and three remain missing after flash floods and landslides struck Vietnam’s northern Dien Bien province, state-run Vietnam News Agency reported Saturday.

Heavy rains between Thursday and Friday triggered severe flooding across several areas, cutting off many villages and forcing the urgent evacuation of hundreds of families.

Local authorities and rescue teams are searching for the missing and providing relief to affected communities. Several injured residents have been hospitalized.

In Hang Pu Xi village, 14 houses were completely swept away, while 30 villages remain inaccessible due to road damage.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, who visited the disaster-hit areas, urged authorities to make every effort to protect residents and restore access to isolated communities. — Agencies