Floods triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 12 people and left one missing in northwestern Vietnam.

According to the government agency on Natural Disaster Prevention, the initial damage caused by the floods is estimated at 20.9 billion Vietnamese dong.

The committee also said that 86 houses were damaged and 40 households were evacuated, while 489 hectares of rice fields were destroyed.

Vietnam is hit by an average of eight to 10 tropical storms between July and October every year, which often cause human losses and property damage.