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Many killed by Vietnam flash floods
Officials say the toll could rise if the weather does not improve.
Last Modified: 08 Aug 2007 21:05 GMT
 Tropical storms and typhoons often strike
Vietnam from August to October [AP]

At least 32 people have died and 17 are missing or feared dead in the worst tropical storm to hit Vietnam this year.
 
Officials said on Wednesday that the toll could rise if the weather did not improve in the next few days.
The officials said: "It is still raining heavily in the mountains and several parts of the province were still isolated with no electricity and telephone links."
 
The floods were triggered by a storm that weakened into a depression since the weekend.
Quang Binh province is the hardest-hit of the central coastal provinces with about 40,000 houses submerged.

Most of the deaths were in the Central Highlands coffee belt where flash floods swept people, houses and crops away.

A commune official was quoted by the Tuoi Tre newspaper as saying: "I have been working here for more than 20 years, but this is the first time I saw such frightening floods."

Ha Tinh province reported 13 deaths, including six children. One person was reported missing, said Trinh Nhu Tien, a provincial disaster official.

The government said more than 48,000 homes and 65,700 hectares of crops were under water

The tropical storm was downgraded to a depression on Monday, but heavy rains continued, the national weather centre said

Tropical storms and typhoons often strike Vietnam from August to October. Last year, 10 storms hit the country and about 500 people were killed by floods and landslides, the government said.

Source:
Agencies
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