VietNamNet Bridge – Typhoon Rammasun has dealt a massive VND125 billion (US$5.9 million) blow to Viet Nam's northern region, an official damage report released yesterday (July 22) said.

Typhoon Rammasun killed seven people and left one injured in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang. Initial losses in the province have been estimated to be more than VND16 billion (US$761,900).

The storm wreaked havoc across more than 4,200 ha of food and rice crops, and caused more than 750 houses to collapse. Almost 6,000 other properties were inundated and 110 power lines were destroyed, said the report.

The death toll from the massive typhoon is now at 27; among them 3 infants and 5 teenagers. Two others remain missing and two people have been injured.

The National Steering Committee on Flood and Storm Prevention and Control said the fatalities had resulted from deadly floods, lightning and landslides that occurred during the storm.

The landslides have caused traffic jams on National Highway No 279 in northern mountainous Son La Province since Saturday. Dozens of heavy trucks have remained at a standstill for four days, while local agencies are still working to clear the roads.

In Dien Bien Province, director of the provincial Transport Department Nguyen Dinh Giang said traffic jams on National Highway No 12 were cleared by 2pm yesterday after a massive three-day effort by emergency teams. The heavy traffic accumulated after heavy floods engulfed a section of the highway from Sunday morning.

In Lang Son Province, medical teams began spraying chemicals to sterilise areas affected by the storm.

Head of the Lang Son City's Preventive Medicine Division Nong Anh Tuan said the chemicals were being distributed in every commune and ward and that local medical staff would instruct residents on how to use them.

Typhoon Rammasun, which made landfall over Quang Ninh Province last Saturday, is the second tropical storm to hit Viet Nam from the East Sea this year.

More than 14,400 people still without electricity after storm

More than 14,400 people in 52 communes in five northern provinces were still without electricity by late afternoon July 22 as consequences of damages caused by storm Rammasun to the transmission network.

Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) group said breakdowns on 11 middle-voltage lines and 82 transformer stations affected 8,100 users in 35 communes in Lang Son province.

Rising floods in Ha Giang province hindered repair work on two 35kV lines and 40 transformer stations, cutting electricity supply to 2,102 customers in four communes.

Electricity supply has also not resumed for nearly 1,500 people in three communes in Bac Giang province, 1,300 in Son La and 1,000 in Dien Bien.

Typhoon Rammasun swept through northern mountainous provinces last week, causing landslides and flash flood that killed at least 24 people and injured two.

A total of 7,000 houses in the localities were submerged or had their roofs blown down while 4,000 ha of rice and other subsidy crops were inundated.

Total economic loss was estimated at around 125 billion VND (5.87 million USD).

The super typhoon claimed at least 94 lives in the Philippines and 26 lives in China.

Source: VNS/VNA