Storm Wipha Unleashes Chaos in Vietnam and Thailand

Heavy storms originating from tropical storm Wipha have led to one death and left one person missing in northern Vietnam, police reported on Wednesday. The storm has since dwindled from tropical storm status to a depression.

A tragic incident occurred when a 59-year-old man in Nghe An province was killed by a falling tree preceding the storm's landfall. Nghe An, spanning from the coastal plains to the Laos border's mountains, suffered extensively from the rain and flooding. Additionally, a woman remains missing after being carried away by the floodwaters, while four others sustained injuries.

The intense weather forced evacuations, leaving numerous homes in disrepair and cutting off power and communication to several upland communities. The landslides, triggered by relentless rains, have compromised infrastructure, collapsing school buildings and interrupting farming activities. In northern Thailand, similar heavy rains have caused widespread flooding, though fortunately, no casualties have been reported.

(With inputs from agencies.)