Twelve killed by lightning as 16 die in north Vietnam storms

At least 16 people have died in several days of heavy rain and storms in northern Vietnam. Twelve were struck by lightning while working in rice fields, authorities said Sunday.

Reuters/Kham

One Chinese worker was swept away in the mountainous Ha Giang province, said the national flood and storm control committee.

Four more people are missing, 63 people have been injured and hundreds of homes have been damaged since the storms began on Wednesday.

Rains have now eased and water levels have started to recede.

Vietnam's flood and storm season, which can last until late October, claims hundreds of lives every year and causes huge material losses.