Hanoi, Nov 16 (IANS): Floods triggered by Storm Podul which hit Vietnam Friday have claimed at least 15 lives, according to Vietnam's National Committee for Search and Rescue Saturday.
Seven people died in Quang Ngai, five in Binh Dinh, one each in Quang Nam, Gia Lai and Phu Yen, reported Xinhua citing the committee report.
Rainfall recorded in several parts of Quang Ngai province, some 750 km south of capital Hanoi, was nearly 700 mm Thursday and Friday, while other provinces also reported 300-600 mm of rain.
Vietnam has experienced a record number of 19 storms and tropical depressions so far in 2013, according to the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.