At least 15 killed by flooding or collapsed buildings as typhoon causes extensive damage to houses, boats and crops

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Typhoon Damrey has made landfall on Vietnam’s south-central coast, killing at least 15 people.



In the worst-hit province of Khanh Hoa, 14 people were killed by collapsing houses or were washed away by floods, the provincial disaster agency said in a statement on Saturday.



The typhoon destroyed 302 homes and blew the roofs off more than 25,000 others, and 112 transport and fishing boats were sunk, the agency said. There was also extensive damage to the province’s rice fields and other crops.



One person was killed and four others reported missing in the provinces of Binh Dinh and Phu Yen, disaster officials said.



Widespread blackouts were reported in the region and dozens of flights were cancelled.



More than 35,000 villagers in high-risk areas were evacuated to safe places before the arrival of the typhoon, according to Vietnam’s disaster management authority. Schoolchildren in several provinces were ordered to stay home.



It is the second natural disaster to hit Vietnam in a month. Seventy-five people were killed and 28 others reported missing in several northern and central provinces after recent flooding triggered by a tropical storm.