Natural disasters are estimated to have caused losses of VND1.8 trillion ($92.31 million) to Vietnam between Jan and Sept, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said. The central province of Nghe An was the hardest hit area with an estimated loss of VND922 billion, followed by the northern mountainous provinces of Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, the office added. The calamities have left 110 people dead and missing, destroyed 1,500 houses, and submerged 18,000 hectares of paddies and other crops during the period, the office noted. Vietnam is among ten countries in the world to be most vulnerable to natural disasters, particularly tropical storms, floods, landslides and droughts. The country is estimated to suffer ten storms a year. (GSO Sept Edition)
