Two persons have died and more than 100 injured in the Mekong Delta region after fury of the cyclonic storm on Wednesday collapsed or blew off rooftops of about 1,000 houses, with the worst affected being Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ben Tre Provinces.
According to statistics from Bac Lieu Province, the cyclone and torrential rainfall lashed Hong Dan, Phuoc Long, Hoa Binh and Vinh Loi Districts, causing much devastation. 71-year-old Pham Thi Be from Phuoc Long District was killed, 13 people were injured and 418 houses were destroyed in the four districts.
Soc Trang Province recorded the death of Tieu Van Sang from Thanh Tri District and with several others badly wounded.
At least 34 people have been rushed to hospitals, after they were buried under fallen trees. Three of them suffered serious injuries.
The cyclone also shattered and blew off roof tops of 336 houses. Several trees and electric poles were flattened resulting in a power blackout in Phu Loc Town and Thanh Quoi Commune in Thanh Tri District. Initial losses are estimated to go into billions of dong.
Four people were injured in Ben Tre Province which saw 200 houses collapse or rendered roofless, and scores of trees and plants uprooted, leaving damages in hundreds of millions of dong.
Can Tho City suffered less, with 37 houses damaged, of which three were completely destroyed, resulting in a loss of VND450 million (US$21,430).
Local authorities have visited the devastated regions to offer financial aid to affected people, and have instructed relevant departments to help repair and rebuild people’s houses.
