The United States government has extended its condolences to the Vietnamese government and people for the losses caused by the recent rains and flooding that swept through central Vietnam, as well as provided financial aid to residents in flood-stricken areas.

“The Government of the United States expresses its deepest condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam as they mourn those who perished due to significant flooding in the central region of Vietnam as a result of Tropical Storm Linfa,” the U.S. Department of State said in a press release on Thursday.

“The U.S. government stands ready to assist Vietnam in addressing the damage caused by the floods, and we send our deepest sympathies to all affected by this tragedy, including the many thousands who were displaced.”

In a press release on Tuesday, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said it would provide a total of US$200,000 in immediate humanitarian aid to support efforts to respond to severe flooding in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The agency is working with the Vietnam Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to all those affected by the flooding.

It will also supply long-term funding to programs that reduce the risk and impact of disasters throughout Southeast Asia.

Through these investments, USAID partners have been on the front lines in responding to the impact of severe weather in Vietnam during this year’s active typhoon season.

Heavy downpours, flood, and landslides killed 111 people and left 22 others missing in central Vietnam between October 6 and 20, according to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Approximately 371 hectares of rice paddy and 6,990 hectares of crops were inundated and damaged. About 5,870 farm animals and over 685,000 chickens were killed and swept away by floodwaters.

Storm Saudel, the eighth to hit Vietnam this year, is currently in the East Vietnam Sea and on its way to central provinces.

The storm was located at 300 kilometers northeast of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago as of 11:00 am on Friday, with winds at 115-150km per hour.

Wind speed will gradually decrease over the next days, and the storm may weaken into a tropical depression before making landfall in Vietnam, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported.

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