~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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Heritage sites at risk from Vietnam floods

HANOI - At least 38 people have died in central Vietnam after days of heavy rains and floodwaters have put many old houses in the world heritage town of Hoi An at risk of collapse. Disaster reports on Monday said the death toll in five flood-hit provinces had risen from 19 on Saturday.

At least 17 people drowned in Quang Ngai province, 890 km (550 miles) south of the capital Hanoi, and 26 more were injured as floods washed away many roads. State radio Voice of Vietnam said authorities in Quang Nam province, home to the U.N.-recognised ancient town of Hoi An, would spend nearly $2 million (1.2 million pounds) to reinforce old houses and pagodas. The radio said 200 of the town's 1,040 listed sites were facing collapse.

Thirteen people died in Binh Dinh, four in Quang Nam, three in Quang Tri and another in Thua Thien Hue province in the week-old flood crisis. Officials said floodwaters had started to recede in parts of central Vietnam and soldiers had evacuated nearly 40,000 people in Quang Ngai and neighbouring Binh Dinh province. Nearly 52,000 houses were submerged, many villages were cut off and traffic on the country's north-south Highway One was blocked.

They said they had yet to estimate the overall damage but at least 7,600 hectares (18,780 acres) of rice had been ruined. Rice prices are likely to rise because of the flood damage, additional demand to supply relief work and thin supplies in the Mekong Delta in the post-harvest period.

Reuters - October 20, 2003.