2 Oct 2013

Typhoon Wutip weakening

7:53 am on 2 October 2013

Typhoon Wutip weakened to a tropical storm on Tuesday after causing widespread damage in Vietnam and southern China.

More than 70 fishermen are missing after the weather system caused three fishing boats to sink in the South China Sea.

However, 14 survivors were found after a Navy rescue operation was launched on Monday, Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday.

Up to 300mm of rain fell on Vietnam from Friday to Monday. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung ordered a high alert for flash floods and landslides afterwards.

By early Tuesday, the typhoon had weakened to a tropical depression and moved over neighbouring Laos.

Vietnam is hit by an average of eight to 10 tropical storms every year.