HANOI (AFP) – The death toll from flooding in central Vietnam jumped further on Sunday, with 64 people listed as killed and 19 missing more than a week after heavy rains struck the area.
Hardest-hit Quang Binh province reported 44 dead and 16 missing, said Hoang Van Quyet, of the provincial natural disaster committee.
He said the biggest worries now were environmental contamination and a lack of clean water in the province, where eight communes were still inundated.
The national flood and storm committee in Hanoi said 100,000 people needed fresh water after the disaster, which caused an initial 112 million dollars in damage.
State television showed troops air-dropping instant noodles and other supplies to flood-hit areas.
On Friday, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered condolences to the victims and said the embassy in Hanoi “has offered immediate relief assistance”.
Vietnam regularly suffers from tropical storms and flooding at this time of year.
