Storm leaves six dead, 47 missing off Vietnam's coast

At least six people were killed and 47 missing after last week\'s strong winds and rain in the South China Sea off Vietnam, authorities said Tuesday.

Five fishermen were killed, as well as one crew member of the Phu Tan freighter which went down Thursday off central Vietnam\'s Quang Binh province in stormy seas, Vietnam\'s Steering Committee on Storm and Flood Control said.

Authorities rescued three crew from the Phu Tan, while 23 others were still missing, said Dinh Hai Bac, chief executive officer of Vinalines Container Shipping Company, the ship\'s owner.

Rescuers were still searching Tuesday for 20 fishermen missing since their boat sank on Saturday, 58 kilometres off Con Dao Island in the South China Sea.

Four more fishermen from three other boats were also still missing Tuesday.

The storm lashed the coast from Wednesday to Friday, sinking 26 ships.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, disasters related to the country\'s annual heavy rains and floods have killed an average of 750 people in each of the past 10 years and incurred costs equivalent to 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product per year.