While visiting and presenting gifts to households in Huong Khe district, which reported a total loss of over 700 billion VND with 22 communes submerged, PM Dung extended deep sympathy to people in flooded areas, especially the victims’ families.

He said, “the Party and State always look towards the central people and will seek every measure to help them quickly overcome the consequences of national disasters and normalise their lives.”

The Government leader urged the three provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Nghe An to continue search and rescue work, provide food for flood victims and mobilise all resources to help repair houses and prevent diseases.

“If any province lets people in flooded areas go hungry, its leaders will be responsible to the Party and State,” he said.

Ha Tinh has so far reported 21 deaths, one missing, 26 injured and over 175,000 houses submerged with a total loss of nearly VND 5.4 trillion (US$270 million).

The PM has decided to provide the affected provinces with VND660 billion from the State budget and 11,000 tonnes of rice from the national reserve to overcome the flood consequences.

The National Committee for Search and Rescue and the Ministry of National Defence have mobilised over 19,000 soldiers, police and militia, 392 motor-boats, one helicopter, seven electric generators and five tonnes of instant noodles and dry provisions to the central region.

On October 20, many agencies nationwide, including the Office of the State President, and National Assembly deputies, contributed money to the disaster fund. Ho Chi Minh City raised over US$18 billion for the victims.

Overseas Vietnamese have extended deep sympathies to central flood victims. Those living in the US State of Texas have donated US$50,000 for people affected by the historical floods over the past 60 years in central Vietnam .

To date, 11 international organisations have pledged of some US$450,000 emergency aid for Vietnamese flood victims.

According to a report by the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, by October 20, the flood death toll rose to 46, including 16 in Nghe An, 21 in Ha Tinh, eight in Quang Binh and one in Thanh Hoa.

The floods also left 21 missing and 18 others injured.