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Floods kill 49 people in Vietnam | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Floods in northern and central Vietnam have killed at least 49 people in the past week, including 18 in the capital, Hanoi, state media have said. | |
Much of the city - hit by the worst flooding in two decades - is submerged under 1m (3ft) of water, and more rain is expected in the next few days. | |
Crops have been destroyed in affected areas and the price of food has soared. | |
Several people died during heavy rain last month. In September, floods caused killed at least 25 in Vietnam's north. | |
The latest round of flooding to hit the country has left residents wading through streets that have been turned into rivers, with water up to their chests. | |
Some 55,000 homes, as well as power stations, schools and offices remain submerged. Floods also contaminated city water supplies. | |
In the badly-affected central province province of Nghe An, 12 people have been killed, including three children who were swept away while walking home from school. | |
Flooding scenes in Hanoi | |
The deluge has also destroyed thousands of acres of crops across the region, and sent food prices soaring as supplies ran out. | |
Losses are estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. | |
The authorities say they have mobilised some 1,000 soldiers and police to evacuate villagers to higher ground, and to rush food and medicine to flooded areas. | |
One soldier was killed on Saturday while helping to reinforce a dyke in the province of Ninh Binh, a government spokesman told the Associated Press. | |
Floods are a common occurrence in Vietnam, killing hundreds each year. | Floods are a common occurrence in Vietnam, killing hundreds each year. |