HANOI — The death toll from floods that devastated central Vietnam in recent days has jumped to 49, disaster officials said Wednesday.

Hardest-hit Quang Binh province recorded 33 fatalities, with 14 people still missing, after additional information reached provincial officials, said Nguyen Truong Giang of the province's flood and storm control department.

"We could only receive information from them today," Giang said late Wednesday. "The weather in our province is improving. Water levels have started receding, but slowly."

The 16 other deaths came in Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Quang Tri provinces, the national storm department said.

In Ha Tinh, which reported seven deaths, the heavy rains and rising waters have inundated at least 8,400 hectares (20,700 acres) of crops while damaging nearly 27,000 houses, the provincial flood and storm control department said.

The province said it urgently needed "at least 60 tonnes of instant noodles, 8,000 boxes of mineral water and 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of chemicals to clean water for domestic use".

Hundreds of military personnel have been mobilised to help evacuate residents threatened by the flood waters.

According to the Thanh Nien newspaper, several trains between Hanoi and the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City were delayed as rail tracks were under water.

Key roads were also hit. State-run Vietnam Television said thousands of cars and trucks were stuck on the main national Highway 1 which had been damaged.

On Tuesday, the army airlifted food and other aid to devastated areas.

Vietnam regularly suffers from tropical storms and flooding at this time of year.

The original article can be viewed HERE

AFP

The conference organisers welcome contributions to this news facility. Please email all contributions to jscarr@rlssa.org.au