Turkey 'saddened' by loss in Vietnam floods

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Thursday expressed condolences over the casualties in recent deadly floods and landslides in Vietnam.

"We are saddened by the tragic loss of lives and extensive damage affecting thousands of homes in Vietnam due to the floods and landslides caused by the tropical storm Malove," said a statement by the Foreign Ministry.

The statement expressed "sincere condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives as well as to the friendly people and Government of Vietnam and wished the injured a speedy recovery."

Death toll in the storm-hit region of Vietnam reached 16 after five more bodies were recovered from the site of a landslide, local media reported on Thursday.

Late Wednesday, two separate landslides caused by Storm Molave hit the central Quang Nam province in Vietnam

So far, 16 bodies have been recovered while 37 people are still missing. Rescue teams faced difficulties in reaching the affected areas as small landslides had blocked roads, according to local media.

Thousands of people have been displaced by the storm while mobile phone coverage was also disrupted in the affected areas.

A day earlier, the government mobilized at least 250,000 troops and 2,300 vehicles to fight the “worst storm” facing the country in at least two decades.