Mekong Delta floods push death toll to 43

October 14, 2011 | 13:44

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Ongoing flooding in the Mekong Delta region has killed at least 43 people, reported the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control on October 13.

Dong Thap province has been the hardest hit claiming 15 victims, followed by An Giang, Can Tho, Long An and Kien Giang.

Floods have inundated nearly 70,000 houses, over 18,000ha of rice and nearly 3,700ha of subsidiary crops. Total loss is estimated at more than VND1.1 trillion ($52.8 million).

Meanwhile, floods have killed four people in the central and central Highlands region.

The National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Centre warned that water levels in Dong Thap Muoi, the low-lying part of the Mekong Delta, and within the Long Xuyen Quadrangle, remain high despite gradually dropping during the next few days.

The Hanoi Fatherland Front Committee has decided to provide Dong Thap and An Giang provinces VND2 billion ($96,000) in aid each to assist people in coping with the aftermath of the flood.

The central province of Quang Ngai has poured around VND27 billion ($1.3 million) into the construction of six new resettlement areas for nearly 500 households living in disaster-prone areas.

However, during the 2010-15 period, the province is expected to relocate an average of 1,500 households to safer ground at a cost of more than VND70 billion ($3.4 million).

Cao Khoa, chairman of the Quang Ngai People's Committee, on Wednesday sent an official letter to the government calling for additional funds of more than VND38 billion ($1.84 million) for relocation purposes.

There are still more than 4,200 households living in areas highly vulnerable to disasters throughout the province.

Storm Banya, heading closer to the East Sea , has weakened to become a tropical low pressure, according to the National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Centre. However, it is forecast to still cause strong winds and rough seas.