By August 19, up to 27 people lost their lives and some 15 others were reported missing or injured after tropical storm Kai Tak hit northern Vietnam three days ago, according to the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

The storm also destroyed 116 houses and ripped the roofs from nearly 6,000 houses. It submerged nearly 23,000 ha of rice and subsidiary crops and more than 1,300ha of aquaculture products. Landslides occurred in many national and provincial highways in Phu Tho, Lao Cai and Ha Giang provinces.

Mountainous northern Yen Bai was the hardest-hit province, with five deaths, one missing and nine injured. Nearly 6,800 houses were damaged or destroyed when the storm swept through the province early August 18.

Affected localities have intensified cleaning efforts, mobilising various forces to clear roads blocked by landslides and fallen trees.

In Hanoi , two death and two injuries were reported. Nearly two hundred trees fell down while roads in some areas were eroded. Rains averaging from 25-50mm caused waterlogging in many places, resulting in traffic jams.

On August 18, the National Committee for Search and Rescue found a fishing vessel from central Binh Dinh province with seven fishermen on board, which was floating offshore due to technical problems, and pulled it to a safe area. Another vessel from central Quang Binh province with six fishermen on board was rescue on August 19.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that although the storm, the fifth of its kind in the East Sea this year, has weakened into a low pressure system and is dissipating, it will nevertheless continue to cause heavy rain during the next few days. Localities are advised to provide updated information to residents and make emergency preparations in advance. Flash floods and landslides may occur in northern mountainous areas.

Meanwhile, Electricity of Vietnam is working on repairing the electric grids and transformer stations damaged by the storm.-VNA