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Vietnam, Taiwan slammed by typhoons Lead

INT63International/Disaster/EnvironmentVietnam, Taiwan slammed by typhoons LeadTaipei, Sep 29 DPA Typhoon Hagupit targeted Vietnam over the weekend, killing at least 42 people, while Typhoon Jangmi left two people dead in Taiwan before weakening to a tropical storm, officials reported Monday. Flash floods, heavy rain and landslides triggered by Hagupit also left four missing and 61 injured in northern Vietnam, the National Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Control said Monday. Disaster officials said floods and mudslides washed away nearly 20,000 homes and 18 schools. The Red River near Hanoi reached dangerously high levels Sunday, cresting at 8.6 metres above sea level, before receding somewhat Monday morning. In Taiwan, two people were also missing and 58 injured, many hit by fallen signboards or cut by fallen glass, after Typhoon Jangmi hit over the weekend, the country's disaster centre said Monday. The typhoon caused severe damage to agriculture as large areas of crops and vegetables were inundated by floods. Janmgi made landfall on Taiwan's northeastern tip Sunday afternoon. Taiwan's rail and air traffic that was disrupted Sunday had partially resumed Monday morning. But heavy rain continued to fall in north Taiwan, keeping the Taipei stock exchange closed Monday. The typhoon centre said the storm passed out of Taiwan Monday morning, weakening and moving in a northeasterly direction along China's east coast at 18 km per hour. Jangmi's outer reaches were expected to hit China's coastal provinces Fujian and Zhejiang Monday evening, battering the coast with strong winds and rain, the local meteorological bureau said. The provinces prepared for this year's 15th typhoon by ordering the evacuation of 460,000 people from low-lying areas, officials said.--DPAsnb/dg302 Words29091932