Vietnam flood death toll rises to 19, many still missing

Yen Bai was the hardest hit province with 11 deaths and eight people still unaccounted for.

The remnants of Typhoon Son Tinh also caused extensive damage to crops, private properties and public infrastructure.

Local residents and disaster relief teams are working hard to deal with the havoc wrought on the vulnerable region which was still reeling from flash floods and landslides which struck just a few weeks ago.

Thousands of homes were affected and more than 2,000 hectares of rice and other crops were submerged in Yen Bai province where damage was also done to 21 roads, 5 bridges, electric poles and irrigation projects.

The total damage was estimated at VND200 billion (US$8.8 million).

The provincial chairman, Do Duc Duy, has already arrived in Van Chan district to direct the search and rescue effort, which was joined by more than 2,000 members of the armed forces and 15,000 local people.

In Son La province, Muong Cai Bridge was swept away by the floods on the evening of July 21, while rising water in Phu Tho province left many communes in the two mountainous districts of Thanh Son and Tan Son completely isolated.

Thousands of residents in Phu Tho province were put under threat as water levels in many places along the Thao River were just 10-20 centimetres from the top of the dyke.

In Quang Ninh province, heavy rains also inundated parts of National Highway 18 and several neighbourhoods.

According to the national meteorological agency, the prolonged heavy rains are forecast to taper off from July 22.

Militia members are helping with the cleanup efforts in Van Chan district.

A flooded road in Quang Ninh province