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VIETNAM-FLOOD
12 dead in Vietnam floods, landslides
HANOI, Nov 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Flash floods and landslides killed at least
12 people in central Vietnam, officials said Sunday, as hundreds of troops
were dispatched to clean up destroyed villages and washed out roads.
Heavy rains pounded the central Khanh Hoa province over the past few days
as tropical depression Toraji blew in from the South China Sea, triggering
landslides that wiped out houses and destroyed a small reservoir.
At least a dozen people have been killed so far while a search was ongoing
for several others, an official from the provincial disaster office told AFP,
refusing to be named.
“We have mobilised hundreds of army troops to help people restore lives and
clean up damaged roads,” he said.
The main highway linking north and south Vietnam was temporarily blocked
and some railway routes were interrupted, while images on state media showed
destroyed houses buried under debris and vehicles submerged in floods.
Panicked residents told of running from their homes as landslides rumbled
down nearby mountains.
“We ran away after hearing the huge sound of fallen rocks… When we
returned a few hours later, all our houses were destroyed,” said Nha Trang
city resident Liem, quoted by Khanh Hoa province’s official online news site.
Khanh Hoa — home to the popular coastal resort city of Nha Trang – was
ravaged by typhoon Damrey last year, which killed 27 people.
Vietnam is routinely hit by heavy rains during typhoon season from May to
October.
At least 185 people have been killed in natural disasters across Vietnam
since January.
Last year, 389 people were reported dead in natural disasters, causing
damage worth $2.6 billion, according to official figures.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1749 hrs