DANANG: The death toll from typhoon downpours and floods wreaking havoc along Vietnam’s south-central coast has risen to 61, an official said Tuesday, as the country opens its doors to world leaders for this week’s APEC summit. On Tuesday an official from Vietnam’s search and rescue committee told AFP the death toll had reached 61, with victims perishing in floods, landslides and capsized boats at sea. Typhoon Damrey, which made landfall on Saturday, is the latest in a string of major storms to thrash Vietnam’s long coastline this year. In September, Typhoon Doksuri tore through central Vietnam, killing 11 people and decimating communities across several provinces. The country has reported at least 240 people dead or missing in floods and landslides since the beginning of the year.

Source: New Strait Times November 07, 2017 04:18 UTC