Floods also caused damages estimated at more than 115.4 billion Vietnamese dong (VND) (7.69 million US dollars), excluding those in the delta provinces of Dong Thap and Tien Giang.

According to the southern Meteorology and Hydrology Station, the water level on the Mekong River's upper reaches is to slowly go down in the coming days, alleviating the foods in the Plain of Reeds (Dong Thap Muoi) and the Long Xuyen Quadrangle.

The water level at the Mekong Delta's lower basin will reach the flooding peak in the next few days and will go down later.

The water level on the Hau river in the city of Can Tho was standing at the highest level over the past years, being measured at 1.82 meters and will continue rising one or two days later.

In addition to rising flood, heavy rain in the recent days has submerged a number of main roads in Can Tho city.

The Vietnamese government has been taking concrete measures to limit the consequence of the floods and help people in the floodedareas.

The government has approved a budget of 3.2 trillion VND (213 million US dollars) for the construction of 1,000 residential quarters in higher ground during the 2001-2005 period. A fund of 500 billion VND (33 million US dollars) was allocated for the construction of 164 such residential areas for 30,000 families in 2002.

In an effort to protect children from drowning, the government has opened free-of-charge child care centers in flood-stricken localities.

So far, 918 day-care centers have been established throughout the Mekong Delta provinces, caring for more than 20,000 children. Many local and international organizations have also sent life buoys to the Mekong delta to save children from death.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2002)