HANOI, October 4 (RIA Novosti) - Typhoon Lekima has continued to wreak havoc in central Vietnam, leaving thousands homeless and causing millions of dollars worth of damage, a spokesman for the country's emergencies service said.
Winds raging at speeds of more than 130 kmph (80 mph) devastated the country's poorest central region, destroying crops over an area approximately 30,000 hectares, and knocking down phone and power lines in the Ha Tinh province.
In two districts of the Quang Binh province the majority of villages were left 1-2 meters (3-7 feet) underwater. A rescue operation is underway and teams are trying to repair damage caused, but local authorities say there is a high risk of landslides and floods.
The prompt evacuation of 100,000 people from the affected region reduced the numbers of potential victims, with at least 50 injured and 5 dead, including a 13 year-old boy, who drowned trying to anchor his boat.
