Storm death toll at 37 in Vietnam as rains subside

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Monday August 21, 2006

Hanoi- The death toll from storms in northern and centralVietnam reached 37 people Monday as the heavy rains that ravaged thecountry for more than a week finally appeared to be subsiding,officials said. "The rain has subsided and no more is expected for the next threeor four days," said Bui Minh Tan, director of Vietnam's nationalweather forecast centre. The rains caused floods and landslides in more than a dozenprovinces in the central coastal and highlands areas and the northernmountains, including eight people killed in Cao Bang near the Chineseborder. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung ordered emergency services toquickly send food and supplies to thousands left homeless in thefloods and landslides, according to the Vietnam News newspaper. More that 10,000 people have been evacuated and thousands of homescovered by waters. The floods also destroyed more than 50,000hectares of rice.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur