HANOI, Oct 10 — Heavy rains and floods triggered by Typhoon Matmo have left 15 people dead and eight others injured across northern and north-central Vietnam, said the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority.
Xinhua reported that over 225,000 houses were submerged and over 1,500 others severely damaged, while about 24,000 hectares of rice and other crops were inundated. Nearly 587,000 livestock and poultry were killed or swept away.
In a statement today, the authority said the typhoon also caused severe disruptions to transportation, with 27 road sections blocked due to flooding and landslides. Power outages affected about 181,000 households, while telecommunications networks in several provinces remained partially disrupted.
The Vietnam News Agency reported today that Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính directed ministries and agencies yesterday to actively support local authorities in overcoming the aftermath of Typhoon Matmo.
Meanwhile, during a meeting in Hanoi with international organisations and embassies under the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership yesterday, the Agriculture and Environment Ministry said the country has called on international partners to provide emergency and recovery assistance after a series of severe natural disasters this year.
Its deputy minister Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp said economic losses were estimated at ₫35 trillion (RM5.49 billion) and that the disasters were expected to reduce the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.2 per cent, according to local media VNExpress.
Vietnam has so far this year experienced 11 typhoons, including six that made landfall, and four tropical depressions, which have left 238 people dead and nearly 400 injured, along with extensive damage to houses, farmland, and public infrastructure.
