Typhoon Mangkhut Causes $15.37M Damage in North, Central Vietnam

Mangkhut, the sixth tropical storm hitting Vietnam this year, caused a total loss of VND326 billion ($15.37 million) to several northern and central provinces after making landfall on Aug 7. Among storm-hit localities, the central province of Thanh Hoa was hardest hit with VND167 billion, followed by the northern province of Bac Giang with VND95 billion and the northern province of Nam Dinh VND64 billion, according to initial reports by the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control. The tropical storm claimed three lives and left the two missing, damaged hundreds of houses after weakening into a tropical low-pressure system latter on the same day. Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, forecast that the super storm Uto will most likely hit the eastern area of China’s Leishou Island, but it may change course to land in Vietnam’s northeastern provinces on Aug 14. Vietnam will likely be affected by five to six storms and tropical low pressures this year, compared to 10 typhoons last year, said experts. (thesaigontimes.vn Aug 12)