Death toll hits 54

The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in north and central Vietnam has jumped to 54, officials said yesterday, in one of the deadliest weather disasters to hit the country in years.

Rescuers were desperately searching for 39 people still missing after heavy rains pounded several provinces this week, with forecasters warning of another major storm heading toward the country.

Villages, roads and homes across several provinces remained submerged yesterday, as authorities tried to clear roads and reach isolated residents in the mountainous north, which was hit by deadly landslides.

Entire families were killed in some areas as rivers tore a destructive path through villages and towns.

In recent days floods submerged or destroyed 33,000 houses, wiped out swathes of farmland, and left several dikes badly damaged, Vietnam's Disaster Management Authority said.

Northern Hoa Binh province -- where a state of emergency was declared this week -- was the hardest hit with 17 dead and 15 missing, followed by central Thanh Hoa province where 14 were killed, the disaster agency added.

And the country is bracing for yet more adverse weather, with forecasters predicting that tropical storm Khanun will intensify over the South China Sea and could hit Vietnam early next week.