To focus on responding to the risk of heavy rain, floods, landslides, flash floods in the Northern Region of Vietnam

To focus on responding to the risk of heavy rain, floods, landslides, flash floods in the Northern Region of Vietnam (Image from the internet)

On August 11, 2024, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam issued Official Telegram 78/CD-TTg regarding focusing on responding to the risk of rain, floods, landslides, flash floods in the Northern region of Vietnam.

To focus on responding to the risk of heavy rain, floods, landslides, flash floods in the Northern Region of Vietnam

To proactively respond to the potential for heavy rain, floods, landslides, flash floods, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam requests:

- Ministers of relevant Ministries, and Secretaries and Chairpersons of the People's Committees of the above-mentioned provinces and cities, pursuant to their assigned functions, duties, and authorities, to continue to direct and rigorously implement the directives of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam in Official Telegram 75/CD-TTg dated August 3, 2024, with the utmost urgency, determination, promptness, and efficiency, ensuring no passive or unexpected responses to natural disasters, particularly the risk of rain, floods, landslides, and flash floods, to ensure absolute safety of lives and minimize property damage to the people and the state.

- Chairpersons of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities: Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Ha Nam, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An:

+ Continue to rigorously review residential areas, promptly identify areas at risk, especially those susceptible to landslides, flash floods, deep flooding, actively allocate forces, and decisively relocate residents from hazardous areas likely to experience landslides, flash floods, to ensure the safety of lives and assets for the people.

+ Organize close monitoring of natural disaster developments and rainfall within their localities; direct and implement response measures promptly and effectively according to the "four on-the-spot" principle, with special attention to communication work, ensuring that all citizens (especially those in remote areas and ethnic minorities) are informed about the risks of rain, floods, landslides, flash floods, and organize transportation control and guidance during rain and flood events, especially regarding travel through areas prone to landslides, deeply flooded areas.

+ Deploy forces, equipment, food, and essential supplies in key areas at risk of isolation during heavy rains, landslides, flooding to promptly conduct rescue and relief operations, and support the people in any situation.

+ Proactively mobilize vehicles, forces, budget, and local resources to immediately address the aftermath of natural disasters; if the local response capacity is exceeded, promptly report to the relevant authorities for support as appropriate.

- The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall direct meteorological forecasting agencies to continuously monitor rainfall developments, promptly forecast and inform the relevant authorities and the public to proactively implement response measures according to regulations.

- Ministers of relevant Ministries: Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Transport, within their assigned functions, duties, and authority, shall proactively direct the response to rain, floods, landslides, flash floods according to regulations, ensure the safety of dykes, reservoirs, protect production, ensure traffic safety and promptly rectify incidents on main transport routes.

- Ministers of relevant Ministries: Defense, Public Security shall direct local police, Military Zones, and armed forces stationed in the area to proactively cooperate with localities to deploy forces, equipment support, proactively early evacuate, relocate residents from hazardous areas, conduct rescue operations and address the aftermath of natural disasters upon local requests.

- Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, Nhan Dan Newspaper, and other central and local media agencies shall increase broadcast time, and disseminate information so that people understand the risks and developments of natural disasters, and acquire response skills when natural disasters occur, especially landslides, flash floods, and deep flooding to minimize damage.

- The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall organize 24/7 duty to closely monitor the situation, proactively direct and urge localities to implement response measures suitable to actual natural disaster developments, promptly report and propose to the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam to direct matters beyond their authority.

More details can be found in Official Telegram 78/CD-TTg issued on August 11, 2024.

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