The death toll from flooding in central Vietnam doubled to 48 today as rain continued to lash large parts of Asia.
The flood water has forced 130,000 people from their homes in southern China and killed nearly 140 across Asia this week.
The spike in Vietnam came after disaster officials were finally able to access isolated areas that had been cut off by the high waters. Another 23 people are missing as villagers start returning to areas where the water is receding.
"People are cleaning their houses and trying to put life back to normal," said disaster official Nguyen Ngoc Giai in hardest-hit Quang Binh province, where 20,000 people were driven from their homes. "Many schools are also doing clean-up to soon welcome back students."
Parts of the country's north-south rail service have been disrupted since Tuesday due to damaged tracks, and bad weather yesterday grounded helicopters making supply and food drops to areas still under water. Forecasters are predicting more rain, but it is not expected to cause severe flooding.
The worst flooding to strike southern China in nearly half a century forced 130,000 people from their homes, the country's state media reported.
Heavy rain lashed the island province of Hainan, forcing thousands to flee with streets inundated and roads damaged, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Two people were missing, but no casualties were reported.
At least 7in of rain fell in 16 cities over the past week, the Hainan provincial government website said. More rain and strong winds are expected through tomorrow.
Agencies