Vietnam flooding death toll at 91
HANOI - Flooding has killed at least 92 people
in central Vietnam, officials said today. The deluge has cut the country's
main highway in two and swamped hundreds of thousands of homes in one of
its poorest regions.
The death toll was expected to rise as reports arrived from areas where
communications have been cut off by downpours from Typhoon Dawn. Damage was
believed to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
The army, border guards and police were mobilized for relief efforts in
eight central provinces. Authorities in the city of Danang used canoes to
ferry food to 50,000 people in one submerged district and planned to drop
instant noodles and bread by helicopter to another.
Provincial health officials have been told to prepare medicine and vaccines
to stop possible epidemics.
Stretches of Highway 1, the major north-south artery, were under three feet
of water today, forcing officials to order most cars and trucks to stay in
Danang.
Only the roofs of one-story houses jutted above the water covering rice
paddies that flank the two-lane highway.
On the 20-mile stretch from Danang to the tourist town of Hoi An, curious
crowds gathered at three places to see the bodies of drowning victims.
Eight central provinces have provided families with $70 for each burial.
Two other floods in the last month killed 69 people and caused $22 million
in damage. Officials said the most recent flooding was the highest water
had risen since flooding in 1964.
Until mid-August, the region was suffering from its worst drought in at
least half a century.
The central government said it was providing $143,000 in relief to Danang.
Residents of Hoi An were looking for food and cleaning the mud from their
streets and historic homes.
A government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung began
touring the affected areas on Sunday.
Reuters - November 23, 1998.
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