Vietnam

150 feared dead after floods

Article published on the 2008-08-11 Latest update 2008-08-11 13:50 TU

Residents cross a destroyed bridge caused by a landslide in Vietnam's northern province of Yen Bai August 10, 2008.
(Photo: Reuters)

Flooding over the weekend in the north of Vietnam left at least 100 people dead and 50 missing, after tropical storm Kammuri hit the country causing flashfloods and landslides. The storm also left 38 people injured.

Three hundred houses were destroyed in the floods and over four thousand homes were flooded. Over 8,000 hectares of crops were destroyed. Hundreds of foreign tourists are currently trapped in the north of the country.

Authorities said it had been the worst flooding since 1971. The storm first hit Hong Kong and southeast China. The worst-hit province was Lao Cai where the Head of the Communist party in the region said any the families of those killed would receive 3 million dong (120 euros) in compensation.

On Monday the rains had stopped but communications were still difficult as highway and rail links were damaged. Emergency services were attempting to reach isolated communities. Thousands of troops are involved in delivering water, food and medicine. Relief officials said they were also working to find missing people.