Vietnam floods kill at least 64 people

HANOI, Vietnam, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Recent flooding in Vietnam has left at least 64 people dead or missing, the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control said.

Twenty-two people were killed in Hanoi, while 17 died in central Ha Tinh province and seven died in northern Vinh Phuc province, the Vietnam News reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said floods swept away 99 houses and damaged more than 100,000 others.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung called on local officials to monitor dikes surrounding Hanoi amid forecasts for more heavy rains.

The Central Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Center has said the region could receive nearly a foot of rain.

Dung said in particular officials need to be sure the Hong (Red) River dike is secure and keep it discharging flood water into the Thac Ba, Na Hang and Hoa Binh reservoirs.