JavaScript is off. Please enable to view full site.

Typhoon Damrey kills 106 in Vietnam, reservoirs brimming before APEC summit

Typhoon Damrey kills 106 in Vietnam, reservoirs brimming before APEC summit

Wednesday, November 08, 2017, 21:23 GMT+7
Typhoon Damrey kills 106 in Vietnam, reservoirs brimming before APEC summit
People travel by boat past buildings flooded by Typhoon Damrey in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 7, 2017. Photo: Reuters

As of Wednesday, 106 people were known to have died because of the year's 12th major storm, which struck on Saturday, leaving 25 missing and 197 injured, the country's search and rescue committee said.

Authorities said vigorous efforts were being made to avoid flooding around the central city of Danang, which will host U.S. President Donald Trump, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin among Asia-Pacific leaders at this week's summit.

A woman walks along a street full of debris caused by flooding by Typhoon Damrey in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters
A woman walks along a street full of debris caused by flooding by Typhoon Damrey in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters

Water was being released from at least 49 reservoirs that were dangerously full, the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention said, with levels at major reservoirs being constantly monitored.

As much as 1,700 mm (67 inches) of rain was recorded at one weather station in the week to Monday. Rain is expected to continue until Wednesday before slackening off on Thursday.

A man wades along a street flooded by Typhoon Damrey in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 7, 2017. Photo: Reuters
A man wades along a street flooded by Typhoon Damrey in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 7, 2017. Photo: Reuters

Meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping began on Monday, with Trump, Xi and Putin due to join other regional leaders at the main event on Friday and Saturday.

The rain has not disrupted the meeting schedule, but the leaders' spouses may not be able to make an excursion to the UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An planned for Saturday.

Women wade through floodwaters brought by Typhoon Damrey in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 7, 2017. Photo: Reuters
Women wade through floodwaters brought by Typhoon Damrey in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 7, 2017. Photo: Reuters

Vietnam's long coastline makes it prone to destructive storms and flooding. Floods killed more than 80 people in the north last month, while a typhoon wreaked havoc in central provinces in September.

The storm hit a key coffee-growing region of the world's biggest producer of robusta coffee beans near the start of the harvest. But farmers in Daklak, the heart of the region, said the damage was limited.

People clean mud from a street caused by flooding by Typhoon Damrey, in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters
People clean mud from a street caused by flooding by Typhoon Damrey, in the ancient UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An, Vietnam November 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters

Reuters

More

Read more

;

Photos

VIDEOS

‘Taste of Australia’ gala dinner held in Ho Chi Minh City after 2-year hiatus

Taste of Australia Gala Reception has returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Vietnamese woman gives unconditional love to hundreds of adopted children

Despite her own immense hardship, she has taken in and cared for hundreds of orphans over the past three decades.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta celebrates spring with ‘hat boi’ performances

The art form is so popular that it attracts people from all ages in the Mekong Delta

Vietnamese youngster travels back in time with clay miniatures

Each work is a scene caught by Dung and kept in his memories through his journeys across Vietnam

Latest news