Hanoi, Nov 7 (IANS): At least 15 persons were killed and six others were missing in heavy downpours and flooding in Vietnam, said the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on Monday.

According to the department, among 13 central regions and Central Highlands localities affected in prolonged downpour, central Phu Yen province suffered the heaviest loss, with seven killed and one missing.

Heavy rain started last Monday and continued throughout the week, flooding nearly 41,000 houses across the two regions, Xinhua news agency reported.

Among submerged houses, as many as 223 houses were damaged by 50 to 70 per cent, said the department.

The agriculture sector was hit badly with about 12,000 hectares of rice and crop under water, while some 42,724 poultry farms and 440 cattle were drowned or washed away.

The department warned the provinces to keep monitoring rain and flood forecast and be prepared to evacuate residents from areas prone to flash flooding and landslides.