Fresh flooding in central Vietnam has claimed the lives of 24 people with scores of others missing.
Violent floods caused by three days of torrential rain have cut off roads and railways across several provinces. Around 25,000 people were evacuated to higher ground to escape the rising floodwaters, as more than 61,500 homes were submerged. Dozens of homes were completely destroyed in the Quang Hgai Province, while a series of landslides along a stretch of main road have isolated the Tay Tra District.
Around 3,000 tourists have been confined to hotels in the city of Hue as the rains pounded central districts of the country.
In Khanh Hoa province, rising floodwaters damaged the enclosure of a crocodile farm, allowing hundreds to escape into surrounding area. People are now faced with the threat of hundreds of crocodiles swimming in the floodwaters.
With the prolonged flooding that Vietnam has seen, health officials have warned of the spread of various water borne diseases. Acute diarrhoea and cholera have already affected around 2000 people.
The heaviest rain has eased across central parts, but forecasters are expecting further periods of heavy rain and thundery showers over the next few days.
