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9.30.2009

tetsana kills at least 41 in vietnam

Typhoon Ketsana's path of destruction continues, battering central Vietnam with powerful winds, heavy rain and dangerously rising floodwaters. The official death toll was placed at 41, with that number expected to rise: Typhoon Kills at Least 41 in Vietnam

While the damage in Vietnam is far less than in the Philippines, it's still being called one of the worst typhoons to hit the country in several years. Casualty figures will likely get worse over the next few days as more reports come in, and river levels rise from rain in the mountains, causing more flooding.

Official reports said some of the worst damage in Vietnam was in the central highlands, where flash floods and mud slides took at least 13 lives and caused serious damage to the country’s coffee growing industry. According to the government, the hardest hit provinces were Quang Nam, Thua Tien Hue and Quang Tri.

According to the Associated Press, at least 11 people were also killed Tuesday in Cambodia. The typhoon is now headed west toward Laos, but weakening, and expected to dissipate over land within several hours. More here: More than 300 killed in path of deadly storm Ketsana.