The death toll from massive floods and landslides caused by torrential rains in central Vietnam has risen to 90, with 12 people still missing, the Department of Dam Management and Disaster Prevention under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam reported.
The worst damage was recorded in the provinces of Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai and Lam Dong. More than 1,100 private homes, schools and administrative buildings were destroyed or damaged, and an estimated 200,000 people were affected by the disaster. The flood also flooded and damaged 24 sections of national highways, seriously disrupting road and rail connections in the central part of the country and with other regions.
The natural disaster caused huge damage to the economy of Central Vietnam, damaging 80,000 hectares of crops, over 100,000 hectares of fruit plantations and killing 3.5 million livestock and poultry. According to Vietnamese authorities, economic losses from the floods exceeded 9.035 trillion VND (over 341 million USD).
The government is taking necessary measures to quickly eliminate the consequences of the floods, ensure human safety and minimize the damage from the disaster. The Ministry of National Defense has deployed 44,600 soldiers and officers, and the Ministry of Public Security has mobilized 98,500 police officers to provide assistance to the local population.
The security forces have deployed helicopters, boats and special vehicles to evacuate people from flooded areas and deliver emergency aid to isolated areas. Medicines, food, clean water and basic necessities are being sent to the affected areas.