Death Toll From Tropical Storm Hits 70 In Vietnam

Monday, August 13th 2007, 7:32 am

By: News On 6

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) _ The death toll from a tropical storm that caused widespread flooding in central Vietnam hit 70 after five more bodies were recovered, while six people were still missing and feared dead, officials said Monday.

The storm severely battered the country's poorest region over the past week.

Ha Tinh was the worst-hit province with 29 deaths, including 14 children, after two more bodies were recovered Sunday, provincial disaster official Tran Duc Thinh said.

Elsewhere in central Vietnam, 41 people were killed by floods or landslides and six others were reported missing and feared dead, officials said.

The tropical storm was the worst to hit Vietnam this year.

Last year, natural disasters in Vietnam killed at least 500 people, injured nearly 3,000, and caused nearly $1.17 billion in damage.