Typhoon Utip kills seven in Vietnam

The death toll from Typhoon Utip, which caused heavy rains and flooding in Vietnam, has risen to seven, AFP reported on Monday (June 16).

Utip hit southern China at the weekend with winds of 128 kilometers (80 miles) per hour before weakening to a tropical storm.

Seven people were killed, 100 homes were damaged and about 60,000 hectares of crops were submerged in water in central Vietnam, according to an update from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority on Monday.

Vietnam is hit by about a dozen tropical storms each year. They usually hit the north of the country in June and move south towards the end of the year.

Meanwhile, central Vietnam, including the World Heritage city of Hoi An, was hit by severe flooding late last week.

Experts say that weather patterns are becoming more intense due to human-induced climate change, which could increase the risk of devastating floods.

Last year, 514 people died in natural disasters in Vietnam, three times more than in 2023.

In September 2024, Typhoon Yagi hit northern Vietnam, causing widespread damage. It killed 345 people and caused an estimated $3.3 billion in economic losses.