15 people killed in torrential rains in Vietnam

In Vietnam, at least 15 people have died after torrential rains caused severe flooding across four central provinces and displaced thousands of people. The heavy downpours, which began last Wednesday and have barely eased since, have brought amounts of rain ranging from 300 to 900 mm over the past few days, according to the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. 

Quang Binh province suffered the heaviest



casualties, of the 15 people that lost their lives, nine of them died there. At least 20 others are still missing. State-run Vietnam Television said at least 30,000 homes were submerged, while roads and railway lines were damaged. 

Many flights in and out of the region were cancelled and several villages were also cut off. Typhoon Sarika is forecast to hit northern Vietnam by the early hours of Wednesday morning.