HÀ NỘI — Twenty six people were killed and five others were missing as floods occurred in the northern region of the country.

Damage was estimated at more than VNĐ940 billion ($41 million).

Damage to roads from floods and landslides caused great difficulties in search efforts, according to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Floods swept away more than 25,000cu.m of highways and 118,000cu.m of roads in provinces and districts.

Some 231 houses were either washed away or totally collapsed, while 425 others were affected by landslides. Nearly 400 families were forced to evacuate. Some 338ha of rice fields were inundated, a report by the committee said.

According to the Water Resources Directorate’s Department of Project Management and Dam Safety, 809 small reservoirs in the northern region currently have full water level. Large and medium reservoirs have reached 65-75 per cent of their designed capacity.

Some 588 small reservoirs in the north central region have reached their full level, meanwhile medium and large reservoirs in the north central coastal provinces reached 70-75 per cent of designed capacity.

The department said all the reservoirs are being watched closely round the clock and there are not reports on risks from these reservoirs.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Đỗ Bá Tý visited the affected areas in Sơn La Province and urged the northern mountainous province to focus its resources on addressing the consequences of floods.

The province has provided financial and food aid for families with dead, injured or missing members, and evacuated families, worth more than VNĐ3.1 billion (US$136,000).

The Vietnam Red Cross presented 200 gifts to the victims. So far, Mường La District has received more than VNĐ7.5 billion ($330,000) in aid. — VNS