HANOI: A powerful typhoon that rocked Vietnam has killed at least 44 people and caused extensive damage to the country's south-central region.
The Vietnam Disaster Management Authority said in a statement Monday that widespread flooding was reported in the region and more than 116,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged.
In addition to the dead, 19 people are missing, including nine crew members of cargo ships that sank off the coast of Khanh Hoa province. Eighty-eight other crew members were rescued earlier.
The typhoon hit Saturday and had already dissipated, but the disaster agency said flooding may get worse as heavy rain was forecast for the region. It was the second typhoon to hit Vietnam in a month
Numerous highways have been submerged just days before the country welcomes world leaders to the APEC summit. 500 kilometres north of hardest-hit Khanh Hoa, strong winds and rain had torn down signs promoting the APEC gathering in Danang, the coastal city which will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next weekend, which will bring together leaders including US President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping.
"Now city people are joining hands with authorities to clean up the mess to make the city look nicer for the APEC week," said local resident Tran Huy.
According to the World Bank, natural disasters have killed more than 13,000 people and caused more than $6.4 billion in property damage to Vietnam over the past two decades.
Earlier video report (below):
(Reuters video)