Children left unattended are at risk

The flood waters are still rising in some places, especially the provinces of An Giang and Dong Thap close to the Cambodian border.

It is the second successive year that the Mekong Delta has been hit by devastating floods. Last year, about 480 people died as waters rose to their highest level in 40 years.

Some experts believe deforestation upriver has led to dangerous changes in the river's flow pattern.

Night dangers

Many schools have been inundated, and one of the biggest problems for parents is caring for young children while they work or fish for food.

Vietnamese Red Cross officials say most of the deaths occur at night. Young children are being swept away in the fast moving waters.

The authorities are trying to limit child casualties by setting up day-care centres.

The Red Cross has been teaching children in schools about safety in disasters, including how to use banana palms and other buoyant items, such as plastic bottles, to float.

Officials are warning that, although they hope the worst of the flooding is over, any serious storms in upper reaches of the Mekong River could bring worse problems in coming weeks.

Receding waters could also cause problems by triggering further erosion of dykes and river banks, causing more casualties.