Typhoon Sinlaku hit Vietnam’s central provinces of Binh Dinh and Phu Yen, destroying the localities and making some residential areas isolated and damage worth around VND60 billion ($2.85 million). Heavy rain soaked basic infrastructure system in Phu Yen and strong water current broke sea dikes in Binh Dinh, threatening people’s lives, said Phan Trong Ho, director of Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The tropical storm blocked thousands people in Phu Yen’s Dong Xuan. Army forces are hurry to provide relief. In the past, tropical storms left millions of Vietnam’s people in misery. The country may suffer 10 storms this year, said the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. The Southeast Asian country lost around VND28 trillion ($1.3 billion), equivalent to 1% of GDP, due to natural disasters in 2013. (Lao Dong – Labor Dec 1 p1, Nld.com.vn Nov 30)
