HANOI, Vietnam, Dec 5, SPA -- Typhoon Durian was downgraded to a tropical storm before slamming into Vietnam's southern coast, killing at least 10 people and destroying hundreds of houses, officials said Tuesday. The national weather forecast center said the storm was packing winds of 117 kilometers (73 miles) per hour when it hit the southern provinces of Ben Tre and Tra Vinh on Tuesday morning. In Ba Ria Vung Tau province, some 125 kilometers (78 miles) southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, at least 10 people were killed and 50 others were injured when their houses collapsed, said provincial governor Tran Minh Sanh, according to a report of the Associated Press.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/408817