HANOI, July 21 (Xinhua) -- One person has been confirmed dead and four others injured in central Vietnam's Nghe An province due to torrential rains and thunderstorms triggered by Typhoon Wipha, local newspaper Lao Dong (Labor) reported Monday.

The effect of Typhoon Wipha, the third tropical storm to hit Vietnam so far this year, damaged 357 houses while inundating more than 400 hectares of rice fields and other crops across the province, the report added.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Wipha is expected to strengthen by early Tuesday, affecting northern Vietnam's coastal areas.

Local authorities are urging residents to stay alert as the storm continues to approach the mainland, the state-controlled media reported. ■