VietNamNet Bridge – Typhoon Mirinae, later downgraded into a low pressure, has killed at least 90 people in the central region and Central Highlands. Thirty-eight people are still missing and 52 injured.

Tuy Phuoc District in the central province of Binh Dinh is one of the many districts isolated by floodwater.

And the devastation continues as heavy rains keep battering the region, causing more flooding of farmland and housing.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday, November 4, asked authorities and People's Committees to intensify efforts to help people recover from the storm.

According to the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, the storm has destroyed 15,000 houses and inundated about 3,000ha of rice and more than 5,000ha of subsidiary crops.

Hundreds of fish and shrimp-raising ponds have also been flooded, causing great losses. More than 300 boats are reported to have sunk in heavy seas.

Traffic, electricity and communications systems in many areas have been disrupted, making it difficult to carry out relief and rescue works.

PM Dung asked the chairmen of People's Committees in Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Gia Lai to mobilise all their forces to rescue people trapped by floodwaters and supply food and medical supplies.

He said that when the flooding subsided, provincial People's Committees should entrust relevant officials and workers to repair and rebuild infrastructure and houses as well as supply the breeds and seeds needed for farmers to recover agricultural production.

The PM also ordered the ministries of National Defence and Public Security and the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control to assist in the rescue work.

The ministries of Finance, Planning and Investment and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in co-operation with localities have been told to assess the losses and put forward specific financial support programmes.

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai directly guided the search and rescue work in Phu Yen Province, which was the most severely hit with 65 people killed, 16 missing and many still trapped by floodwaters.

The Viet Nam Red Cross yesterday started its emergency relief programme by sending teams to provide 600 family tool boxes, instant noodles and drinking water and cash to families affected by the storm in Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces.

Yesterday, Chairman of Gia Lai Province People's Committee Pham The Dung decided to award a certificate of merit to Chau Thanh Sang and Nguyen Dang Khoa in Ayunpa Town for saving five people swept away by floodwaters. Each of them also received VND10 million (US$555).

According to the National Centre for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting, heavy rains keep battering central and Tay Nguyen (Central Highland) provinces.

And water levels in rivers keep rising, causing more flooding, leading the centre to warn of a high risk of landslides and flash flooding.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

 

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