Heavy rains, floods kill 49 in Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) - Floods and heavy rains had, by early morning of November 2, left at least 49 people dead in northern and central Vietnam, with the capital Hanoi reporting the highest dead toll at 18.

More rains are expected in the two regions in the next few days, the
National Steering Committee for Food and Storm Prevention and Control told a
meeting in Hanoi on November 2, asking the affected localities,
particularly mountainous provinces, to have plans in place to deal with
emergencies.

The committee has also sent its missions to the affected localities to
inspect rescue and aid efforts.

Non-stop heavy rains, the worst to have hit Hanoi in more than 25 years,
killed 18 local people and sent food prices skyrocketing in the capital as
much of its transportation system ground to a standstill over the last two
days.

By the morning of November 2, rain had lightened and water had receded in
Hanoi , but many of the city's streets remained submerged under water.

Eleven deaths were also reported in other northern localities, namely Bac
Giang, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Ninh Binh, and the
death toll in central Vietnam, where floods submerged several provinces
earlier in the week, reached 20, including 17 in Ha Tinh province.

Property losses are estimated to reach tens of trillions of VND as floods
have destroyed and damaged nearly 55,000 houses, more than 180,000 ha of
food crops, over 9,600 ha of aquatic product farm, 140,000 cu.m. of dykes,
and nearly 70 km of roads.

On November 2, the Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central
Committee sent a message of condolence to the disaster-hit localities over
their human and property losses and decided to provide aid in cash to the
bereaved families with 2 million VND for each victim and to the injured with
1 million VND each.- Enditem