Typhoon death toll rises to 59 in Vietnam

Vietnam’s death toll from Typhoon Durian rose to 59 people today as authorities began cleaning up Vietnam’s southern coast where more than 120,000 houses were destroyed.

The worst damage took place in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, where at least 34 people were killed, 17 went missing and more than 450 others were injured, most of them in collapsing houses.

“The death toll could rise,” said Pham Nhat Quang, a spokesman at the provincial military command. “Many of the victims are in very bad condition.”

Across the region, most people were killed by collapsed houses, flying tin roofs or fallen trees.

Fourteen people died in Ben Tre Province and three died in Phu Yen. Two died in Ho Chi Minh City, two in Tien Giang Province and two in Binh Thuan Province.

Quang Ngai and Vinh Long each reported one death.

Twenty-nine people were still missing today, and the government sent out a fleet of Air Force planes to search for them.

The storm hit Vietnam early yesterday, but the rains had stopped by yesterday afternoon. No flooding was reported.

The government evacuated thousands of people before the storm hit. Some of those who lost their lives refused to follow the evacuation order.

In September, Typhoon Xangsane killed 69 people after slamming Vietnam’s central coast.