Hanoi - With this weekend's heavy rains in northern Vietnam beginning to subside, the death toll from floods and landslides rose to 86, and 38 people are still missing, officials said Sunday.

Rain triggered by tropical storm Kammuri, which slashed through Vietnam Friday, caused floods and landslides in the mountainous northern provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Quang Ninh and Bac Kan.

Lao Cai province suffered the most casualties, with 32 people confirmed dead and 31 missing, said Thao A Tua, head of the province's flood and storm department.

"The rains have begun to subside and we are now focusing on searching for the missing and helping those whose houses were washed away," Tua said. "Military and police forces have also been mobilized for rescue work."

The death toll from floods in the neighboring province of Yen Bai rose to 29 on Sunday, while four people remain missing, according to provincial disaster official Tran Anh Van.

Floods and landslides also killed 11 in Ha Giang, 8 in Quang Ninh, 5 in Phu Tho and one in Bac Kan province, according to disaster officials in those provinces.

"The rains have started to abate, but it is still very dangerous, as water levels in local rivers will reach their peak tomorrow," Bui Minh Tang, director of the National Hydrometeorology Forecast Center, said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent an urgent message to the provinces on Saturday asking them to maintain close surveillance of the rain situation and to immediately search for the missing and provide treatment for the injured.

Dung also asked the Ministry of Defense and the National Search and Rescue Committee to send forces to the area for rescue work.

The latest floods and landslides have raised the total number of people killed by natural disasters in Vietnam this year to at least 114. (dpa)