Hanoi: The death toll from floods that
devastated central Vietnam over recent days has reached at
least 26, disaster officials said on Wednesday.
A total of 19 deaths were reported in the two hardest-hit
provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh, according to provincial
officials.
Seven other people were killed elsewhere in the central
region, officials said.
In Ha Tinh alone, the heavy rains and rising waters have
inundated at least 8,400 hectares (20,700 acres) of crops
while damaging nearly 27,000 houses, the provincial flood and
storm control department said.
The province said it urgently needed "at least 60 tonnes
of instant noodles, 8,000 boxes of mineral water and 1,000
kilogrammes (2,200 pounds) of chemicals to clean water for
domestic use."
Hundreds of military personnel have been mobilised to
help evacuate residents threatened by the floodwaters.
According to the Thanh Nien newspaper, several trains
between Hanoi and the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh
City have been interrupted as rail tracks are under water.
Key roads were also damaged. State-run Vietnam Television
said thousands of cars and trucks were stuck on the main
national Highway 1 which had been damaged.
On Tuesday, army helicopters were deployed to bring food
and other aid to devastated areas.
PTI
