Heavy rainfalls leave one dead, another missing

In Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Heavy rainfalls in the northern mountainous provinces of Lao Cai and Ha Giang left one dead and another missing, causing a loss of nearly 31 billion VND (1.34 million USD) as of October 23.  According to the Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on October 24, downpour washed away 13 homes, inundated 87 others and 232.58ha of rice, 23ha of aquaculture, and killed more than 1.500 heads of cattle and fowls in Lao Cai. The total damage is estimated at around 12 billion VND.  The casualties were reported in Quang Binh district, Ha Giang province on October 22. Up to 77.53ha of rice and 0.99ha of vegetables were lost, resulting in a damage of nearly 19 billion VND.  In anticipation of floods and tides in the Mekong Delta and northeastern monsoon in the north and north central region, the committee asked localities to take measures so as to ensure human safety, prevent drowning and electric shocks, especially in residential areas to be submerged.  The north and north central regions must watch against floods and landslides.  The municipal and provincial steering committees on disaster prevention and control and search and rescue were also required to regularly update the office about the disasters so that it could offer timely directions.-VNA