HANOI (dpa): Torrential rains and landslides have killed at least 43 people in Vietnam since last weekend, authorities said on Friday.
Nine others remain missing, the country's disaster management agency said.
Nearly 70,000 houses are still flooded, forcing thousands to evacuate. Many residents fled the rising waters by climbing onto their roofs.
Tens of thousands of animals have also died in the floods. Local media described the situation as "historic flooding."
The worst-hit areas include the city of Quy Nhon, the popular coastal resort of Nha Trang and other parts of central Vietnam.
Many roads were blocked by fallen rocks and landslides, disrupting traffic. Authorities and relatives have received hundreds of calls for help from affected communities.
Meteorologists forecast further rainfall over the weekend.
On Sunday evening, a tour bus in the region was struck by a landslide and buried under earth and boulders. Six people were killed in the accident and 19 others were injured.
Earlier this month, dozens of people were already killed when heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding in central Vietnam.
Particularly affected were the tourist hotspots Hue and Hoi An, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.
In recent days, the picturesque town of Hoi An, famous for its lantern-lit streets, was flooded once again. - dpa
