Hanoi, Sep 26 (DPA) At least five people were dead and 37 missing after a tropical storm lashed the central Vietnamese coast, officials said Tuesday.

Flooding caused by heavy rains from the storms killed most of the five victims, including two in Quang Binh province and one each in Ha Tinh and Quang Nam provinces, officials said.

Most of the people reported missing were fishermen from Nghe An province who did not make it to shore ahead of the storm, said Ha Huy Thong, head of the provincial flood and storm department.

"Five fishing boats with about 35 fishermen still remain missing," Thong said.

Rescuers and military units throughout central Vietnam remained on alert Tuesday even though the rain had passed through the coastal areas.