Typhoon Mirinae kills at least 99 in Vietnam

HANOI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 99 people were killed as typhoon Mirinae slammed Vietnam, according to a report of the government's website on Thursday.

The people's committee of central province Phu Yen, the hardest-hit province by typhoon Mirinae, said floods and strong winds have claimed at least 69 lives in this single province.

The provincial people's committee of Binh Dinh said that there have been so far 13 deaths and three other missing in the typhoon, making the province the second worst-hit.

The third hardest-hit central province by the typhoon is Khanh Hoa with 12 deaths and one missing, said the provincial people's committee.

Central highland Gia Lai reported four deaths and central Ninh Thuan province reported one death.

According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, heavy rain keeps battering central provinces of Vietnam. The forecasting agency also warns of a high risk of landslides and flash flooding as water levels in rivers keep rising.