Death Toll from Vietnam Flooding Rises to 98

Hanoi- The death toll from the heavy rains and flooding that have devastated Vietnam’s central region has climbed to 98, with 10 people still missing, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority.

More than 2,000 houses have been damaged and 426 completely collapsed, the report said.

The floods also submerged over 51,800 hectares of rice fields and other crops, while more than 920,800 livestock and poultry were killed or swept away, Xinhua news agency reported.

Economic losses are estimated at over 14.3 trillion Vietnamese dong (approximately 570 million US dollars), according to authorities.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged local administrations to intensify response measures as the central provinces continue to battle severe flooding and related natural disasters.

To support recovery efforts, the government has provided emergency assistance worth 700 billion Vietnamese dong (around 26.6 million US dollars) to several hard-hit areas, Vietnam News Agency reported. Additionally, an emergency relief fund of 450 billion Vietnamese dong (about 17.93 million US dollars) has been approved for four affected cities and provinces—Hue, Da Nang, Quang Tri, and Quang Ngai.

Despite ongoing relief work, over 28,400 houses remain inundated and 946 more have sustained damage. Power has been restored to most affected areas, though around 75,000 households are still without electricity.

Earlier in August, flash floods and landslides in the northern province of Dien Bien left eight people dead and three missing, with around 60 homes destroyed or damaged, according to the Disaster and Dyke Management Authority.

With inputs from IANS