Floods leave 2 dozen dead in central Vietnam

At least 24 people have been killed as heavy flooding triggered by days of unseasonable torrential rains hit central Vietnam.

The National Flood and Storm Control Committee said in an online report on Monday that Binh Dinh was the hardest-hit province with 16 fatalities reported since heavy rains began on December 12.

The floods also left two more people missing in the coastal province. Hundreds of houses in remote areas were submerged.

According to the report, the floods caused $32 million in damage and destroyed over 32,000 hectares of crops.

The rains also inundated parts of the tourist town of Hoi An, a World Heritage site.

"It is strange for our town to be hit with flooding in December," said Nguyen Thi Hon, a restaurant owner in Hoi An, adding that the floodwaters had receded in the last few days.

Local forecasters, however, have warned of further rains over the weekend.

SS