Types of natural disasters requiring forecast, warning and information transmission in Vietnam

Types of natural disasters requiring forecast, warning and information transmission in Vietnam (Image from the Internet)

1. Types of natural disasters requiring forecast, warning and information transmission in Vietnam

Types of natural disasters requiring forecast, warning and information transmission in Vietnam according to Article 3 of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg are as follows:

- Storms and tropical depressions active in the area west of longitude 120° East, north of latitude 05° North, and south of latitude 23° North (hereinafter referred to as the East Sea, Annex I of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg) and on the mainland territory of Vietnam; storms and tropical depressions active outside the East Sea, but likely to move into the East Sea within the next 24 to 48 hours.

- Heavy rain occurring in the territory of Vietnam; floods on rivers within the territory of Vietnam and related international rivers (Annex II of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg); flooding, flash floods, landslides, land subsidence due to rain or water flow within the territory of Vietnam.

- Heatwaves, droughts, saline intrusion, landslides, and land subsidence due to drought in the territory of Vietnam.

- Strong winds in the East Sea; fog in the East Sea and on the mainland of Vietnam.

- Water surge in coastal areas and islands of Vietnam.

- Whirlwinds, lightning, hailstorms, severe cold, and frost within the territory of Vietnam.

- Forest fires due to natural causes in the territory of Vietnam.

- Earthquakes with a magnitude (M) equal to or greater than 3.5 (according to the Richter scale or equivalent) affecting Vietnam.

- Earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 6.5 (according to the Richter scale or equivalent) occurring at sea that have the potential to cause tsunamis affecting Vietnam.

- Tsunamis occurring due to offshore earthquakes, potentially affecting Vietnam.

2. Regulations on determination of disaster severity levels in Vietnam

Regulations on determination of disaster severity levels in Vietnam according to Article 4 of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg are as follows:

- Natural disaster risks are classified based on intensity, scope of impact, directly affected areas, and the potential for damage.

- Levels of natural disaster risks are determined for each type of disaster and announced along with the forecast and warning information.

- Each type of natural disaster risk is classified into a maximum of 5 levels and is associated with a unique color on various maps, in increasing order of risk levels: level 1 - light blue for low risk; level 2 - light yellow for medium risk; level 3 - orange for high risk; level 4 - red for very high risk; level 5 - purple for catastrophic risk (Annex XII of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg).

- The risk level of two or more simultaneous or successive natural disasters may be increased by 1 level based on their combined impact; in the event of severe damage to people and property, the risk level may be considered to increase by two levels, with a maximum of level 5.

3. Regulations on Agencies and Organizations Responsible for Issuing Natural Disaster Forecasts, Warnings, and Risk Levels

Regulations on agencies and organizations responsible for issuing natural disaster forecasts, warnings, and risk levels according to Article 6 of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg are as follows:

- The General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for issuing forecasts, warnings, and levels of natural disaster risks stipulated from clauses 1 to 6 of Article 3 of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg.

- The General Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for issuing natural forest fire forecasts and warnings and levels of natural disaster risks as stipulated in clause 7 of Article 3 of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg.

- The Institute of Geophysics under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology is responsible for issuing earthquake bulletins, tsunami warnings, and levels of natural disaster risks stipulated from clauses 8 to 10 of Article 3 of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg.

- Forecasts and warnings on natural disasters issued by the agencies and organizations stipulated in clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 6 of Decision 18/2021/QD-TTg are official bulletins, used for directing and managing the activities of prevention, response, and recovery from natural disasters in Vietnam.

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