Storm Podul weakens into tropical depression, killing 5 in Vietnam

Typhoon Podul, after moving towards the offshore of Vietnam's central provinces from Phu Yen to Binh Thuan, weakened into a tropical depression on Friday, killing at least five people and inundating thousands of houses. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting on Friday, the depression had wind speeds of about 40- 60 kph and gusts of up to 90 kph, causing high flood in the region. As of Friday afternoon, the center of the depression was at 11. 8 N and 109.8 E over the sea of central Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan provinces over 1,100 km south of capita Hanoi, with winds of between 50-61 kph. Heavy downpours caused unexpected high and fast flood in Quang Ngai province some 750 km south of Hanoi, pushing over 25,000 local people living along the Ve and Tra Khuc rivers to evacuate to high places. Besides, local roads were eroded or inundated, causing traffic jams for many vehicles, including three trans-Vietnam trains which had to temporarily stop on their mid-way in central Binh Dinh province bordering Quang Ngai in the south, reported the center.