Typhoon death toll surges to 89, 18 missing in central Vietnam

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Typhoon Damrey has killed 89 local people and left 18 others missing in Vietnam's central and central highlands regions, the country's Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said Wednesday morning.

Damrey also injured 174 people, destroyed over 2,000 houses, damaged more than 110,000 others, sank 1,200 cargo and fishing ships and boats, and killed nearly 10,000 fowls and cattle.

People ride boats along submerged by Typhoon Damrey houses in Hoi An, Vietnam November 7, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Of the fatalities, 37 were from central Khanh Hoa province, 15 in central Binh Dinh province, 15 in central Quang Nam province, nine in central Thua Thien-Hue province, seven in central Quang Ngai province, three in central highlands Lam Dong province, three in central Phu Yen, and one in Kon Tum and Dak Lak provinces.

Among the 18 people listed as missing as of Wednesday morning, nine are from Quang Nam, five fom Binh Dinh, two from Thua Thien Hue, and one from Quang Ngai and Phu Yen each.

They died or went missing in house collapses, landslides, ship sinking or flood water flows.

Women wade through floodwaters brought by Typhoon Damrey in ‍Hoi An, Vietnam November 7, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The Vietnamese defense ministry has sent 26 divers to waters off central Binh Dinh province to search for crew members of some cargo ships which sank due to fierce winds and waves.

Eighteen vessels have been mobilized for search and rescue activities in the waters. No oil spills have been seen so far.

Fairly strong winds last weekend destroyed or damaged several gates and billboards on the key roads along My Son beach in central Da Nang city, which is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week from Nov. 6 to Nov. 11. Rain continued on Wednesday morning.

According to the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the municipal authorities have put forth three scenarios in which the city will have to respond to the typhoon, floods and high waves, even tsunamis to help ensure safety and security during the APEC week.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency