Latest update: 3.28pm 03/10/2009

World Vision has begun initial relief distributions in Vietnam after Typhoon Ketsana swept the country on 29 September.

Food and fresh water is being distributed to families in Central Vietnam and relief distributions will continue over the coming days. World Vision will lead the rapid assessment team in the area and is appealing for additional funds to enable a response for 50,000 people in the region.

Typhoon Ketsana killed 92 people, injured 199 and left 12 others missing in the central and central highlands provinces of Vietnam. More than 6,376 houses have been destroyed and 171,000 others are damaged or have had their roofs blown off. The disaster is reported to have caused an initial loss of US$170 million.

The Vietnamese government is sending helicopters to rescue people in isolated areas and providing food aid to typhoon-affected people. Ahead of the typhoon the government evacuated more than 350,000 people in the central provinces to safety.

To date, torrential rains resulting from the typhoon have caused flooding and landslides, blocking many roads to the central provinces and making relief efforts difficult. Le Van Duong, Relief and Disaster Mitigation Coordinator, said: “our staff tell us the flood water is 1-2 metres high in some areas.”

Read more about World Vision’s response to Typhoon Ketsana here.