Early on Sunday, a landslide killed at least 14 military personnel and left eight missing in central Vietnam, the government said, in what might be the country's biggest peacetime military loss as it fights major floods.

The mudslide struck the barracks of a Vietnamese 4th Military Region unit in central Quang Tri province, the government said in a statement on its website. It occurred days after another landslide in the neighboring province of Thua Thien Hue killed 13 people, mostly soldiers.

"We had another sleepless night," reporters were told on Sunday by an emotional deputy defense minister, Phan Van Giang.

The government later said that 14 bodies were recovered and that eight others were still missing.

"The government said on Facebook," We've never lost so many military members, including two generals and high ranking officials, in natural disasters.

"The government said on Facebook," We've never lost so many military members, including two generals and high ranking officials, in natural disasters.

Since the beginning of October, intense rainfall has caused the worst flooding in years, with more than 80 people killed in central Vietnam. Over the next few days, more heavy rain is anticipated.

State media reported yesterday that rivers in Quang Tri province have risen to the highest levels in more than 20 years, flooding more than 40,000 provincial homes and killing dozens of people.

Rescuers battled driving rain in the province of Thua Thien Hue while searching for at least 15 construction workers missing after a landslide.

It is likely that rainfall totaling as much as 600 millimeters will continue until Wednesday in parts of central Vietnam.