As of 31 December, four people have died from landslides or floods caused by  days of torrential rains in the central region, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control reported.

Torrentials rains cause floods in Xuan Quang commune, Dong Xuan district, Phu Yen province.

Three people in Khanh Hoa Province's Cam Lam District were killed when their houses collapsed by landslides on 30 December morning.

The fourth victim is from Phu Yen Province, who was swept away by flood waters on 29 December.

Heavy rains have also damaged three houses in Khanh Hoa, inundated 384 homes in Phu Yen, 10,920ha of rice in the central provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa, and eroded nearly 100m of dykes in Binh Dinh.

Erosion triggered by torrential rains has been reported along beaches in Vinh Hai commune, Phu Loc district; Phu Thuan commune, Phu Vang district; and Hai Duong commune, Huong Tra town of Thua Thien-Hue province.

The committee on December 30 issued a notice asking steering boards for natural disaster prevention, search and rescue of coastal cities and provinces, and localities in the north, and north central regions, as well as ministries and agencies to take measures to effectively cope with the ongoing complex weather patterns caused by a cold spell that hit many parts of the northern and north-central regions since December 28, and a tropical low pressure which is heading to the East Sea.

The boards were urged to keep a close watch on weather conditions and promptly inform boats which are operating at sea, while instructing local farmers to protect plants and animals during the cold spell, the committee said.

(Source: VNA)