Despite downgrading into a tropical low, Typhoon Mirinae hit the central region of Viet Nam yesterday, November 3, leaving at least 31 dead, 21 missing and 45 injured.

Rescuers and flood victims in Dong Da Commune in the central city of Quy Nhon.

Traffic, electricity and communications systems in many central provinces and the Central Highlands have been disrupted, making it difficult to implement relief and rescue works.

Swirling floodwaters and landslides led to the cancellation of five north-south trains, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in stations between Khanh Hoa and Binh Dinh provinces.

The storm also affected many flights. Winds of up to 100kmph prevented planes from landing in Da Nang City. Most returned to their points of departure.

Vietnam Airlines, which cancelled at least 50 flights, said last night that flights to central and Central Highland provinces had been re-established, apart from those to Nha Trang and Quy Nhon cities, where heavy rain continued.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, Mirinae has now downgraded into a tropical low pressure hovering around provinces in the northern part of the Central Highlands.

It is expected to travel deep inland with winds of up to 39kmph and disperse early today.

However, the centre has warned the Central Highland provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong about continuing strong gusts.

Coastal provinces from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai have also been told to look out for fierce, choppy seas with gusts up to 102kmph.

Provinces from Quang Tri to Khanh Hoa and the Central Highland provinces of Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Lak have been told to prepare for flash floods and landslides due to heavy rain in mountain regions.

Binh Dinh is flooded yesterday by rains from Tropical Storm Mirinae.

Provincial authorities have assigned 10 boats to assist people in the flooded areas, however, there have been problems in accessing the regions.

And helicopters set aside for rescue and relief work have been grounded because of the bad weather.

Phu Yen Party Committee Secretary Dao Tan Loc said the province had tried to evacuate people residing along the lower section of Ba Ha River as river levels were quickly falling.

Meanwhile in central Khanh Hoa Province, authorities are still evacuating residents from danger areas. Already, 6,500 people from 1,700 households have been moved.

Provincial authorities are now starting to evaluate the damage so they can provide cooking and other necessary supplies.

In the central province of Ninh Thuan, authorities have marshalled all forces to assist residents, repair damaged roads and reconnect telephone networks.

In Da Nang City, border guards from Da Nang Port yesterday afternoon rescued 12 seamen from a Cambodian ship, the Lucky Dragon, that sank in heavy seas only 100 metres offshore from Ngu Hanh Son District.

Eight of the seamen were Chinese and four were from Myanmar. They were taken to hospital in Da Nang City for observation.

The Lucky Dragon, carrying 2,600 tonnes of steel from Huang Pu in China to HCM City, was said in some reports to have been broken in half by fierce seas and sank after its engine broke down on Monday.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News