Storm Wutip, the10 th to hit Vietnam this year, caused heavy damage to the centralQuang Binh province, including the national park.
Most equipment and facilities serving guests in the park were damaged bystrong wind and floods, with total damages estimated at more than threebillion VND (141,000 USD).
The park’s managementboard and staff have mobilised all resources to surmount the storm’sconsequences to greet visitors.
Established in 2001, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is among the 238 most important ecological zones in the world.
It was recognised by the UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site on geological and geomorphologic criteria in 2003.
The property contains and protects over 104 km of caves andunderground rivers, making it one of the most outstanding limestonekarst ecosystems in the world. The karst formation has evolved since thePalaeozoic period (some 400 million years ago) and as such is theoldest major karst area in Asia.
Thepark is also home to a large number of faunal and floral species,including threatened species such as tiger, Asiatic black bear, and therecently discovered sao la.-VNA