HANOI - The number of people killed by severe flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 72 as of Saturday afternoon, local daily VnExpress reported, citing the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority.

Thirteen people remain unaccounted for, according to the report.

The Ministry of Construction said in its latest update that 33 passenger trains have been forced to suspend operations, while many others remain halted along the rail network.

READ MORE: 10 killed in landslides, flooding in central Vietnam

Initial estimates put economic losses caused by the flooding at nearly 9 trillion Vietnamese dong (about $358 million), the local media outlet added.