ReliefWeb

Due to seasonal rains, water levels in the Mekong River started rising in late June 2002. By mid-September, water levels stayed above Alarm Level 3 (very dangerous flood condition) at all gauging stations, and the provinces of Long An, Dong Thap, and An Giang remained flooded. (OCHA, 12 Sep 2002)

By 7 October 2002, the death toll from the effects of storms and continuing floods rose to 258 people, 99 of whom were children. Nationwide, more than 53,000 ha of rice and substitute crops were inundated and more than 130,000 houses submerged. Total property losses were estimated at more than CHF125 million (USD84 million). In the southern Mekong delta provinces, floodwaters submerged almost 73,000 houses and claimed 106 lives, including 90 children. Numbers were below the 2001 floods partly due to the establishment of 'living clusters' (residential quarters on higher ground), 164 of which were built for 30,000 families in earlier in 2002. (IFRC, 7 Oct 2002)