Typhoon Mirinae kills at least 99 in Vietnam

2009/11/05

HANOI: At least 99 people were killed as typhoon Mirinae hits Vietnam, according to a report of the government's website on Thursday.

The people's committee of central province Phu Yen, the hardest-hit province by typhoon Mirinae, said floods and strong winds have claimed at least 69 lives in this single province, the Vietnam news agency (VNA) said.

In Binh Dinh, 13 deaths recorded while three other are still missing in the typhoon, making the province the second worst-hit.

Other provinces are Khanh Hoa (12 deaths and one missing), Central Highland Gia Lai (four deaths) and Ninh Thuan province (one death).

According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, heavy rain keeps battering central provinces of Vietnam.

The forecasting agency also warns of a high risk of landslides and flash flooding as water levels in rivers keep rising.

Typhoon Mirinae drenched the Philippines, leaving 16 people dead and several more have gone missing when the typhoon hit it country over last two weeks.
-- BERNAMA