HANOI (AFP) - Five people, including three children, were killed as heavy rain lashed Vietnam's northern Nghe An province, an official said Thursday.

"The five were killed in a landslide overnight on Tuesday in the Yen Tinh district," said Vi Van Hoi, vice-president of Tuong Duong district council.

"More than 800 millimetres (31 inches) of rain has fallen on the province over the last few days and it has damaged many electricity pylons and held up traffic in three of the province's districts," he added.

Several hundred people a year are killed by severe weather in Vietnam.