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.
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