22 dead in Vietnam floods
At least 22 people have died during a week of torrential rains that have battered central Vietnam and forced the evacuation of 40,000 people, state media said today.
Eight people drowned in Quang Ngai, the worst affected province, and six people were injured, while 31,000 homes were flooded and 108 house swept away, the Thanh Nien newspaper said.
The death toll from neighbouring Binh Dinh province rose to eight, with 59 houses destroyed and 7,500 hectares of crops washed away since the rains began Tuesday evening.
Binh Dinh officials have estimated the damage in their province alone to be 4.5 million dollars.
Three fatalities were reported in Quang Nam province and a further three people died in Quang Tri, the daily said.
The water levels of all the main rivers in the region have risen at an alarming rate, and the country's main north-south highway has been flooded in several places, according to the Nhan Dan newspaper.
AAP/News.com.au - October 19, 2003.
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