10-day Floods Kill 30 in Northern Vietnam: Agency

Flood caused by torrential rains that struck Vietnam’s northern region over the past ten days has left 30 deaths and 40 others missing and injured, according to the Central Steering Board for Disaster Prevention and Control. The majority of the death-toll comes from Quang Ninh with 17 deaths. Quang Ninh is home to UNESCO-recognized natural heritage Ha Long bay and coal mines. Downpours have left thousands of people homeless as their houses have been soaked in water or swept away. Rising water have isolated hundreds of people while landslides have caused traffic congestions. The rains, which were measured 1,000 mm at most, have submerged 16,000 hectares of paddy fields and cash crops, broke hundreds of reservoirs and dams. Damage initially calculated in more than 20 cities and provinces reaches dozen trillions dong. But consequences after the natural disasters are much severe with diseases, hunger, poverty, water shortage and insanitary conditions. (Tuoi Tre – Youth Aug 6, vtc.vn Aug 6)