At least 137 people were dead or missing in mountainous northern Vietnam on Sunday after heavy rains brought by tropical storm Kammuri triggered widespread flash floods and landslides.
Thousands of troops, police and emergency services rushed to flooded towns in the poor and heavily deforested region to deliver drinking water, food and medicines to people stranded on the roofs of their houses.
By early Sunday, two days after the rains first hit the area, 92 people were confirmed dead and 45 listed as missing, according to reports compiled by AFP from central and provincial emergency relief agencies.
About 300 homes were destroyed and 3,500 damaged by the floods, which had wiped out about 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) of crops, authorities said. "We have mobilised all forces, including the military and police, to overcome the effects of the floods," Bui Quang Vinh, Communist Party chief of the worst-hit Lao Cai province, told state broadcaster VTV by telephone.
"We are trying to get to the flood victims, bury the dead and provide medical treatment to the injured," he said, adding that the family of each person killed would receive three million dong (175 dollars).
At least 36 people were killed and 38 remained missing in Lao Cai, but officials said the toll could rise since some areas remained isolated due to blocked roads.
"Many portions of road have been destroyed," said Vinh. "Telecommunications cables have been cut. In some areas it takes half a day to walk from the local commune headquarters to the places were victims are stranded."
At least 33 people were killed and five were missing in Yen Bai province, five were dead in Phu Tho, and one was dead in Bac Kan. "We are trying our best to help people," said a disaster relief official in Yen Bai province. "I think the number of dead may increase because there are so many people missing, feared dead."
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