To focus on responding to the tropical depression that is likely to intensify into a storm and cause flood and heavy rain in Vietnam

To focus on responding to the tropical depression that is likely to intensify into a storm and cause flood and heavy rain in Vietnam (Image from the internet)

On September 18, 2024, the Prime Minister the Government of Vietnam issued Official Telegram 98/CD-TTg regarding focusing on responding to the tropical depression that is likely to intensify into a storm and cause flood and heavy rain in Vietnam .

To focus on responding to the tropical depression that is likely to intensify into a storm and cause flood and heavy rain in Vietnam 

Following Official Telegram 97/CD-TTg dated September 17, 2024, to proactively respond to tropical depressions likely to turn into typhoons, especially the risk of heavy rain, urban and low-lying area flooding, landslides, flash floods, and mudslides in mountainous and sloping areas to ensure the safety of lives and limit damage to the property of the people, the Prime Minister the Government of Vietnam requests:

- Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of the aforementioned provinces and cities to closely monitor the situation, continuously update information on the developments of tropical depressions, typhoons, and floods; direct the prompt, decisive, and effective deployment of response activities suitable to the actual developments in the area, strictly implement the principle of "four on-the-spot" and proactively handle the worst possible situations, particularly focusing on the following key tasks:

+ Review, guide, and call back vessels to avoid entering, exit the dangerous area, or move to safe shelters; promptly implement measures to ensure the safety of vessels, means at docking locations, and production activities at sea, along the coast, especially on fish cages, aquaculture lookout huts, coastal tourism, service areas.

+ Deploy plans to respond to tropical depressions, storms, floods, landslides, flash floods, mudslides, ensuring the safety of lives and minimizing property damage for the people.

+ Implement measures to limit damage to housing, warehouses, offices, schools, medical facilities, business production, dykes, reservoirs, construction works, especially transportation works, and dykes under construction; urgently complete the trimming and reinforcing of urban trees, houses, offices, dredging, and clearing drainage systems.

+ Operate and regulate hydroelectric, irrigation reservoirs in the area scientifically, suited to the practical situation, ensuring absolute safety for the constructions, contributing to flood reduction downstream, preventing the phenomenon of compounded floods.

+ Proactively arrange forces, materials, vehicles, especially in areas expected to be directly affected by the typhoon, rain, floods, key areas to be ready to respond to tropical depressions, storms, floods, rescue, and relief when requested.

+ Proactively deploy measures to overcome the consequences of natural disasters to quickly stabilize the lives of the people, urgently restore business production; promptly provide food, drinking water, necessities for the households affected by natural disasters, especially those isolated areas; absolutely prevent anyone from suffering hunger, cold, homelessness or lack of drinking water.

- The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment to direct the meteorological and hydrological forecasting agencies to closely monitor the situation, forecast, and provide complete and prompt information on the developments of tropical depressions, typhoons to the functional agencies and the public for proactive and effective response.

- The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to organize 24/7 on-duty, closely follow the situation, proactively direct and urge local authorities to implement response work suitable to the actual natural disaster developments, promptly report, propose the Prime Minister the Government of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Ministers to direct issues beyond their authority.

- The Minister of Transport to direct safety measures for transportation vessels operating at sea, on rivers; ensure the safety of roadway, railway, and airway transportation activities; deploy typhoon and flood prevention measures to ensure the safety of people, vehicles, and important national projects, key transportation infrastructure under construction in the area.

- The Ministers of Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development by their assigned functions and duties to closely coordinate with the aforementioned localities to direct the relevant agencies and units to implement safety measures, sensibly and scientifically operate hydroelectric, irrigation reservoirs to ensure construction safety and contribute to flood reduction downstream.

- The Ministers of National Defense, Public Security to direct rescue forces to be on regular duty, ready for rescue, asset protection, and emergency relief requests.

- Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, and media agencies to increase broadcasting time, report to ensure the public fully and accurately understands the developments of tropical depressions, typhoons, floods, and the directives of the competent authorities to promptly implement appropriate response activities minimizing the damage to lives and property.

More details can be found in Official Telegram 98/CD-TTg which comes into force in Vietnam from SSeptember 18, 2024.

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