19 dead in landslides in central Vietnam
Updated 22:32, 29-Oct-2020
CGTN
A bulldozer clears out the road damaged by landslide to access a village swamped by another landslide in Quang Nam province, Vietnam, October 29, 2020. /AP

A bulldozer clears out the road damaged by landslide to access a village swamped by another landslide in Quang Nam province, Vietnam, October 29, 2020. /AP

At least 19 people died in landslides in Vietnam's central Quang Nam province on Thursday, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Two separate landslides occurred in Tra Van and Tra Leng communes in Nam Tra My district of Quang Nam province on Wednesday. Another eight bodies were found in the Tra Leng commune, adding to the other eight found earlier in the other commune, according to the latest report by the news agency.

The number of people missing may soon drop as two households managed to get up to the mountain areas before the landslide occurred, said the report.

Search and rescue is still underway with military staff, vehicles and equipment mobilized, according to the report.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Wednesday requested the country's National Committee for Disaster Response, Search and Rescue, military forces and local authorities to coordinate and use any method necessary to quickly rescue the victims of the landslides.

Typhoon Molave hit Vietnam's central region on Wednesday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds.

(With input from Xinhua)