The tropical storm Son Tinh turned into a low depression yesterday after killing four people and injuring seven. In northern and central coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Nghe An, thousands of houses were damaged, and six people remain missing.
Hai Phong City was the most devastated area, with one killed, four missing and seven injured - all aquaculture farmers and sailors anchored in Cat Hai District.
The storm also blew over a 180-m television tower in Nam Dinh City, which cost more than VND40 billion (US$1.9 million) and was the highest and most modern in northern Viet Nam. As winds hit 133kph, dozens of boats in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Thai Binh were destroyed, the National Committee for Search and Rescue said.
Thousands of hectares of vegetables and rice fields were battered and many cattle were swept away. Landslides and power cuts also occurred in northern provinces, and trees were violently uprooted.
The provinces continue to report more losses.
The storm weakened into a tropical low yesterday morning after crossing the coast at Quang Ninh Province. The Central Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting Centre said winds were expected to drop to 39kph at the eye and move northeast at 10kph over the next 12 hours from 10am yesterday until they dissipate.
Up to 300-400mm of rain inundated the northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong and Thai Binh.
The affected provinces are making efforts to repair damage caused by the storm and help local people recover their production.
More than 10,000 parcels of food, clothes and other necessities have been delivered to local people.
The Central Flood and Disaster Control Steering Committee said 1,500 soldiers were mobilised for search and rescue and to help victims repair houses.