As of late August, nearly VND8.7 trillion of losses have been recorded due to natural disasters so far this year, not including losses caused by serious drought and salt intrusion in the south-central, Central Highlands, east-southern and Mekong River Delta regions, the General Statistics Office (GSO) has reported.

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In addition, 90 people were reported dead and missing; and 223 others were injured during the natural disasters. They also destroyed over 83,000 houses; damaged over 200,000 hectares of vegetables, nearly 50,000 hectares of other crops, and nearly 19,000 hectares of fish farms; and killed 36,000 animals, 198,000 poultry and over 854 tons of fisheries.

In August alone, the first 3 storms of this year had a serious impact on production and residents’ lives, especially for those in the Red River Delta, highland and northern mountainous regions.

The first and second storms, Mirinae and Nida alone, killed or left missing 21 people and injured 81 others; collapsed and swept away nearly 500 houses and blew off the roofs of over 41,000 others; and damaged over 170,000 hectares of rice, nearly 30,000 hectares of crop and nearly 8,000 hectares of industrial trees, causing losses of some VND6.9 trillion. Later in August, the northern region suffered from big losses caused by the influence of the third storm, Dianmu, with torrential rain leading to serious flooding and landslides in mountainous provinces.

As of August 23^rd, storm Dianmu claimed the lives of or left missing 9 people and injured 6 others; damaged over 6,300 houses; inundated 2,900 hectares of rice, 1,500 hectares of crops, and nearly 250 hectares of industrial trees and fruit trees, causing losses of some VND153 billion./.

( Compiled by VNF )