Death toll in Vietnam typhoon rises to 59

Authorities began cleaning up Vietnam's southern coast, where more than 120,000 houses were destroyed.

Vietnam's death toll from Typhoon Durian rose to 59 people on Wednesday as authorities began cleaning up Vietnam's southern coast, where more than 120,000 houses were destroyed, officials said.

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The worst damage took place in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, where at least 34 people were killed, 17 went missing and more than 450 others were injured, most of them in collapsing houses.

"The death toll could rise," said Pham Nhat Quang, a spokesman at the provincial military command. "Many of the victims are in very bad condition."

Across the region, most people were killed by collapsed houses, flying tin roofs or collapsed trees.

Fourteen people died in Ben Tre Province and three died in Phu Yen. Two died in Ho Chi Minh City, two in Tien Giang Province and two in Binh Thuan Province.

Quang Ngai and Vinh Long each reported one death. Twenty-nine people were still missing on Wednesday, and the government sent out a fleet of Air Force planes to search for them.

The storm hit Vietnam early Tuesday, but the rains had stopped by Tuesday afternoon. No flooding was reported.

In September, Typhoon Xangsane killed 69 people after slamming Vietnam's central coast.