Death toll rises to 91 in Vietnam

Death toll rises to 91 in Vietnam

HANOI (AP): Flooding caused by heavy rains in central Vietnam has claimed 91 lives, and local officials said on Monday the number was expected to rise as they receive more reports.

The floods affected several hundred thousand people in one of Vietnam's poorest regions. No damage estimate was available, but it was believed to be in the tens of millions of dollars.

Downpours of up to 1.185 meters Thursday through Sunday submerged large swaths of land. Rain was still falling Monday, so while water levels were receding in some areas, they still were rising in others.

Parts of Highway 1, the major north-south artery, remained submerged. Only trucks with high clearance were being permitted on the stretch from Danang to Quang Ngai to the south.