Prolonged heavy rain, which triggered floods in the south-central region earlier this week, has killed 22 people and left seven missing, according to the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention Control.
In Thua Thien-Hue Province alone, seven people lost their lives. Deaths were also reported in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Quang Tri provinces.
Floods injured 31 people, left 14,000ha of crops under water and submerged 29,600 houses.
The National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Centre said water levels in rivers in the region had begun to drop but forecast further heavy rain over the next few days that could lead to flash floods and landslides.
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai yesterday visited flood-hit Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces to supervise recovery operations. He called on local authorities to pay more attention to raising public awareness about the flood threat.
Floods have killed five people in Quang Nam Province and left three missing. More than 8,300 houses and 1,000ha of crop land are under water. Numerous roads and bridges have been dama-ged, leaving many areas stranded.
Meanwhile, 11 people have been reported dead and 32 others injured in floods since the start of this month in Quang Ngai. The disaster has also levelled 50 houses and caused losses estimated at VND444 billion (US$22.2 million).
A suspension bridge on the Re River in Son Ha District in Quang Ngai Province has collapsed, leaving more than 300 H're ethnic minority households stranded.
The deputy PM visited Thua Thien-Hue Province on Thursday and inspected Binh Dien hydropower plant's reservoir.
Hai said the reservoir management board should assign round-the-clock guards to monitor water levels. He also said local residents in low-lying areas should be notified when the sluice gates were opened.
Hai agreed to provide VND30 billion ($1.5 million) in relief aid. One thousand tonnes of rice, life-jackets and crop seeds would also be given to the province.
The Ha Noi Fatherland Front Committee plans to donate VND1 billion ($51,000) in relief aid to Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan and Binh Dinh provinces.
A delegation from Vietnam News Agency's repres-entative office in Da Nang City visited flood victims in Phuoc Dinh Commune in Ninh Thuan Province yesterday and presented relief aid packs worth VND500,000 each to 350 households.
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