Vietnam has lost an estimated VND25 trillion ($1.2 billion) due to natural disasters since the beginning of this year, according to data from the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control. The figure included VND20 trillion worth of losses from the natural disasters in October, compared to just VND59.7 billion in Oct 2012. Natural calamities have also left 264 people dead and missing and injured 800 others. Over 12,000 houses collapsed and more than 300,000 hectares of paddy and subsidiary crops were destroyed during the period. This year, 15 tropical storms, including 11 typhoons, and four tropical depressions have hit the country, compared to 10 typhoons and two tropical depressions in 2012. The Southeast Asian country is one of the ten countries most vulnerable to natural disasters, particularly tropical storms, floods, landslides and droughts. (Sai Gon Giai Phong – Saigon Liberation Nov 22 p7)
