PM asks for prompt measures supporting flood-hit communities

• Youths of Public Security visit flood victims in Chuong My district
• Leaders and officers of G.D 4 raise fund for victims of floods
• Public Security Forces help people overcome consequences of floods

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), heavy rains and flood from August 2-3 and October 9-10 in the four localities caused 91 deaths and missing, while collapsing more than 356 houses with total property loss of over VND8.5 trillion.

Meanwhile, torrential rains from October 9-12 in Nghe An and some northwest provinces resulted in devastating floods in some rivers, and forced Hoa Binh reservoir to open eight floodgates for the first time.

Floods in the Hoang Long river in Ninh Binh and the Cau Chay river in Thanh Hoa exceeded the record level by 20-30cm, causing overflow and damage in 252 dyke areas.

Serious landslides also affected mountainous localities, especially Tan Lac, Da Bac, Kim Boi districts and Hoa Binh city of Hoa Binh province.

Since early this year, natural disasters has left 245 deaths and missing, collapsing over 4,600 houses, seriously damaging more than 102,00 others across the country. Total property losses amounted to VND36.5 trillion (more than US$1.6 billion).

The MARD held that geographical features and deforestation were among reasons behind heavy downpours and floods in northern mountainous region, along with poor forecasting capacity.

It proposed the Prime Minister provide urgent investment for these localities to fix and reinforce dykes, together with improving resilience of public works and efficiency of warning equipment.

Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung pointed to the necessity to review all areas prone to flash flood for preventive measures, as well as adopt solutions to maintaining lakes and dams to ensure their smooth operation.

PM Phuc asked for reviewing disaster response activities, from forecasting, directing, fighting and recovering process to draw lessons.

Along with cutting interest rates and rescheduling loans for the locals, the PM asked the localities to pay special attention to the production of the winter-spring rice crop and care for them in the upcoming Lunar New Year festival.

He assigned the MARD to provide varieties for flood-hit communities, while requesting authorized agencies to ensure smooth transportation and supply of power, especially in northern mountainous provinces. Population planning should also be completed towards ensuring safety for people, he added.

He also asked the localities to propose suitable assistance for them to quickly overcome consequences of the disasters and stabilise locals’ lives.

The Government leader also agreed with the MARD’s suggestion to organise a national conference on natural disaster prevention and control in December this year.