Vietnam - Typhoon Ketsana hits

At least 22 die as storm turns into typhoon

Article published on the 2009-09-29 Latest update 2009-09-29 10:54 TU

A true colour image of Typhoon Ketsana, which is intensifying off the coast of Vietnam
(Photo: WikiMedia Commons)

Typhoon Ketsana has slammed into Vietnam killing at least 22 people, while more than 170,000 earlier fled its path. As a weaker tropical storm, Ketsana battered the Philippines, where the death toll stands at 240.

Losses were heaviest in the inland province of Kon Tum, where nine people died, an official with the national flood and storm control committee said.

Ketsana intensified in strength as it crosses the Pacific from the Philippines, and made landfall south of Danang at about 0700 universal time, bringing flooding and power outages.

Flooding earlier hit parts of Hue city, the former capital listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, forcing residents to get around in small wooden and steel boats.

Fallen trees littered the streets and the Perfume River, which winds through the ancient Imperial City, had risen considerably.

Authorities have mobilised several thousand military personnel and police to help residents out of the typhoon path, according to Nguyen The Hung, of the national flood and storm control committee.

"Most fishing vessels have returned to port," he said. Vietnam Airlines on Monday said it was suspending flights to the central tourism hubs of Danang and Hue.

Tropical storm weather in the past week has already killed 18 people in central Vietnam from drowning, electrocution and accidents.