Flash floods hit north Vietnam, 80 dead or missing

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

HANOI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - More than 80 people died or were missing in three provinces of northern Vietnam after tropical storm Kammuri brought heavy rain, landslides and flash floods, the government said on Saturday.

The mountainous province of Lao Cai, bordering China, was the most seriously hit with at least 66 people reported missing, it said.

The government issued an urgent call for the immediate rescue and evacuation of people from areas vulnerable to flash floods.

The National Meteorology Centre said at least five people were missing in Lao Cai's resort town of Sapa, popular with foreign backpackers, but it was not known if any foreigners were among the victims.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSHAN139769

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on edit: I realize that this is small potatoes compared with the war between Georgia & Russia, the Olympics, John Edwards (man, that one really bummed me out) etc. But in the interests of global awareness...