HONG KONG, , Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Typhoon Lingling hit central Vietnam on Monday causing hundreds of houses to collapse and killing at least 10 people before moving inland and losing force.
Local media said at least 10 people had died as the typhoon, the strongest to batter Vietnam in 15 years, unleashed winds up to 75 miles per hour, tore trees from the ground and destroyed hundreds of homes.
Meteorologists said the typhoon was downgraded to a tropical low pressure system after hitting Vietnam's coastline overnight and moving inland.
The typhoon's rains and severe winds affected Vietnam's seven central provinces. As the typhoon bore down on Vietnam, police and rescue officials were put on alert. Children and elderly residents were evacuated from low-lying areas Sunday.
Lingling pounded the Philippines last week with strong winds and torrential rain causing severe mudslides and flooding. Officials said more than 200 people were killed as Lingling tore across several islands in the archipelago.
Officials said the death toll in the Philippines continues to rise as bodies are recovered under collapsed houses and landslides on the island of Camiguin, one of the worst hit areas, and neighboring provinces.
Officials in the Philippines said Lingling had caused damage in 12 provinces and had inflicted a heavy blow on the country's infrastructure. It was the 14th severe storm this year to batter the islands.
Lingling was forecast to move west toward Laos and Cambodia, continuing to dump rain on the region and causing fears of flooding. It is the first typhoon to strike the center of the country this year.
