Thunderstorms that followed in the wake of Typhoon Hato have destroyed 3 houses and injured one person in Viet Nam's highland resort town of Sa Pa, while a further 700 houses have been damaged elsewhere in Lao Cai Province.

A report from Viet Nam's Natural Disaster Committee said that thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon caused serious damage in the northern highlands province.

Strong winds blew off the roofs of at least 742 houses, damaged schools and ruined 90 hectares of rice and other plantations.

Heavy rain also caused a landslide in the nearby Lai Chau Province.

Rainfall of up to 200mm is forecast for the region through Friday, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides.

Hato, the 6^th tropical storm to form this year in the East Sea, also killed at least 12 people in total in Macau and southern China on Wednesday.

(Source: VnExpress International/ DA NANG Today)