The death toll from floods that have devastated central Vietnam over the past week climbed to 61 as a remote mountain province counted its dead, officials said on Wednesday.
In another province close to the coast, three major landslides have again cut off Highway 1, the main north-south artery, causing traffic jams for dozens of kilometres.
At least seven people have died since December 11 in flash floods in the mountainous province of Dak Lak, 1 400km south of Hanoi, according to Pham Zuan Truong, of the local flood and storms department.
”All of the victims, including two small children, were drowned in flood waters,” Truong said.
Heavy rains in Dak Lak have also destroyed many houses, 1 300ha of rice, 2 500ha of corn and 500ha of coffee, he said. Initial total damage cost is estimated at 50-billion dong ($3,14-million).
Dak Lak, Vietnam’s major coffee-producing region, is one of six provinces in central Vietnam hit hard by torrential rains from late-season tropical depressions.
The rains have mostly subsided and flood waters were receding except in Phu Yen province, 1 150km south of Hanoi, where three landslides early on Wednesday morning blocked the Ca Pass, causing traffic jams.
”About 34 000 cubic metres of rock and soil are blocking the road and traffic is completely stopped,” reported Dang Thi Lanh, of the Phu Yen flood and storm department. ”Traffic is backed up for dozens of kilometres and road workers are trying to clear away the debris.” — Sapa-DPA