Coordination activities in response to incidents, natural disasters, and search and rescue in the road traffic in Vietnam

Coordination activities in response to incidents, natural disasters, and search and rescue in the road traffic in Vietnam

Coordination activities in response to incidents, natural disasters, and search and rescue in the road traffic in Vietnam are regulated as follows:

(1) Coordinated rescue activities for individuals in danger in areas affected by natural disasters:

- Evacuate individuals from dangerous areas;

- Provide prompt medical aid to individuals in danger; search for missing individuals and vehicles;

- Mobilize personnel, materials, and equipment to participate in rescuing and providing assistance to those in distress when necessary.

(2) Responsibilities for rescue coordination:

- Road Management Regions, Departments of Transport, Project Management Units, enterprises investing in and managing road infrastructure construction and maintenance contractors are responsible for participating in search and rescue as mobilized by authorized agencies;

- On-site incident and disaster response forces must fully utilize their capacity to swiftly rescue individuals in distress (if any) from dangerous areas or situations; in cases exceeding their capacity, they must immediately notify professional search and rescue forces or the nearest medical emergency services; meanwhile, they should be prepared to coordinate when required;

- Road Management Regions, Departments of Transport, Project Management Units, investors, enterprises investing in and managing road infrastructure construction, maintenance contractors must proactively implement rescue operations within their management scope; in cases exceeding their capacity, they must report to the provincial People's Committee, the Ministry of Transport, and the Vietnam Road Administration for national highways as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 8 of the Road Law.

(3) In the event of natural disasters causing damage to road infrastructure and traffic congestion, Road Management Regions, Departments of Transport, Project Management Units, investors, enterprises investing in and managing road infrastructure construction, maintenance contractors, according to their assigned functions and tasks, must promptly cooperate with the district-level civil defense command to assess damages and propose measures for disaster consequence mitigation, ensuring traffic is restored in the shortest possible time; report to competent higher authorities and announce on public media for public awareness and prevention.

(4) The specialized road inspection force must actively cooperate with other functional forces in traffic management and lane regulation, participate in ensuring security, order, and social safety in the area.

Circular 40/2024/TT-BGTVT shall be effective from January 1, 2025.

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