Vietnam is estimated to have lost VND849 billion ($40.6 million) from natural disasters in the first three months of this year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said. Bitter cold weather damaged more than 28,000 hectares of paddies and rice seeds while 1,500 hectares of other crops were severely inundated during the period, the GSO added. Consecutive cold spells also killed 10,900 head of cattle in the northern Lang Son province, 6,800 ones in the northern Lao Cai province, 6,600 in the northern Son La province and 3,600 in the northern Ha Giang province between January and March. Vietnam is one out of the ten most vulnerable countries by natural disasters, particularly tropical storms, floods, landslides and droughts. It is estimated to suffer ten storms a year. (GSO Mar Edition)
