Two dead, 13 Vietnamese fishermen missing at sea

Two Vietnamese fishermen died and 13 others were missing after two boats sank in stormy weather in the South China Sea, authorities and state media said Tuesday.

Parts of central Vietnam have been hit by heavy rain for more than a week, triggering serious flooding inland, and dangerous conditions at sea.

Two boats with a total of 93 fishermen onboard "were sunk by a whirlwind and high waves" close to the Spratly Islands, a report on the government's website said.

Two fishermen died after being pulled from the water, according to state-run Vietnam News Agency.

A total of 78 people were rescued by vessels fishing nearby, the government report said.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told the military, local authorities and rescue workers to do everything they can to find the 13 remaining fishermen, who were last heard from on Monday, the report added.

Last weekend, two people died and thousands of houses were under water after heavy rainfall caused floods in central areas including the cities of Danang and Hue.

Vietnam is frequently lashed by harsh weather in the rainy season between June and November.

Natural disasters including floods and landslides have claimed around 100 lives in the country since the beginning of the year, according to the General Statistics Office.

Scientists have warned extreme weather events globally are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change.

(AFP)