Typhoon Kalmaegi causes over 296 mln USD in damage in Vietnam

HANOI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Kalmaegi and its subsequent rains and flooding have caused losses worth more than 7.8 trillion Vietnamese dong (about 296.5 million U.S. dollars) in Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency reported Sunday, citing the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority.

The central province of Gia Lai suffered the most severe losses, with damage exceeding 5.2 trillion Vietnamese dong (about 197.6 million dollars), the report said.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, the typhoon and its circulation had caused 179 boats to sink or suffer damage. More than 2,300 houses collapsed and about 57,500 others were damaged.

A total of 54,285 fish-farming cages were affected, while 153 head of cattle and 4,553 poultry were reported dead or swept away, according to the authority. ■