Deputy PM calls for doubling efforts to find 57 people missing in central region

Heavy rains and floods lead to widespread flooding in central Viet Nam

In Thua Thien-Hue, rescue mission is underway to find 12 workers buried by landslide at the construction site of Rao Trang Hydropower plant project in Phong Dien District.

In Quang Nam, 22 residents are still missing due to landslides caused by heavy rains.

Meanwhile, fishing boats BD 96388 TS with 12 fishermen on board, and BD 97469 TS with 14 fishermen on board sank while they were at sea, about 135 - 170 nautical miles northeast of Nha Trang city.

Three of the fishermen on BD 97469 TS were rescued by China’s Hong Kong cargo ship FORTUNEIRS on October 29 while the rest are still missing.

The central region has been severely battered by five storms since early October, causing huge loss of lives and property, according to a Government report.

At least 235 residents have been reported dead or missing and more than 201,000 houses were flattened or damaged.

Heavy to intense rains and floods submerged 317,000 households in localities from Nghe An to Quang Nam, in which Quang Binh was hit hardest with 109,000 houses inundated.

The Government estimated that total damages reached VND17,000 billion.

The Government decided to allocate 11,500 tons of rice, VND 1,000 billion, and other essential supplies in emergency relief aid to the storm-hit localities.

To date, over 3,250 flood- and storm-resilient houses have been constructed in five provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Thanh Hoa in a bid to help vulnerable and flood-affected people there.

This is the joint project by the Green Climate Fund, Government of Viet Nam, UNDP and a further 800 resilient houses are planned for construction in 2021./.

By Huong Giang

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