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Durian hits southern Vietnam killing 47 people
Tropical storm Durian slammed into Vietnam's southern coast, killing at least 47 people, injuring more than 300 and destroying thousands of houses, officials said yesterday.
- AP
- Published: 00:00 December 6, 2006
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Philippines must weather the storm
Philippines must weather the storm
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Disease fears after typhoon Durian
Disease outbreak feared in typhoon-hit area
Hanoi: Tropical storm Durian slammed into Vietnam's southern coast, killing at least 47 people, injuring more than 300 and destroying thousands of houses, officials said yesterday.
The deaths brought Vietnam's storm-related death toll to 50. Three fishermen drowned on Monday off the coast of Phu Yen province when their boat capsized as the storm approached.
The storm, believed to have killed more than 1,000 people in the Philippines, was packing winds of 117km per hour when it made landfall in southern Vietnam yesterday morning, weather forecasters said.
Condolences
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo flew to Guinobatan town in Albay province, the worst hit by Durian yesterday to personally give out relief goods to residents.
Arroyo also expressed condolences to the families of those buried by a mudslide from Mt Mayon that hit the town last Thursday during the height of the typhoon. "I condole with those who lost their loved ones and homes. Vice-President Noli de Castro has joined me," Arroyo, who wore black, told residents.
Apart from personally handing out relief goods, the president also gave out cash worth $100 (Dh367) each to residents who lost a relative. Before coming down to condole with the victims, Arroyo boarded a helicopter and conducted an aerial survey of areas ravaged by the typhoon in Albay.
Cargo planes
Shortly before the president arrived, two cargo planes from Indonesia landed in Albay carrying relief goods for the affected local folk. Aside from De Castro, the president was also accompanied by Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya.
- With additional inputs by Cher Jimenez, Manila Correspondent
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