Typhoon Mirinae kills at least 81 in Vietnam

HANOI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The death toll caused by Typhoon Mirinae has risen to 81 in Vietnam, the latest figures from the authority of affected provinces showed on Wednesday.

According to the people's committee of central province Phu Yen, the hardest-hit province by the typhoon, floods and strong winds have claimed at least 65 lives and left 16 others missing in this single province, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has arrived in Phu Yen to directly monitor the rescue work.

Other central provinces of Vietnam that were hit hard by the typhoon Mirinae included Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh and Gia Lai, said the Vietnam Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control.

According to initial accounts of the committee, floods left six people dead and three others missing in the central Khanh Hoa province. Central Binh Dinh province reported five deaths and two others missing. Gia Lai province reported four deaths and Ninh Thuan province reported one death.

The National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said that Typhoon Mirinae has downgraded into a tropical low pressure, but more rain is still forecast for central provinces in the next few days.