Northern region at risk of flash floods and landslides: Prime Minister issues urgent directive

According to the dispatch, from the beginning of May 2025 until now, although it has not yet entered the peak of the rainy season, many dangerous weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, heavy rain have appeared, causing floods, flash floods, landslides, causing damage to people's lives and property, especially in some provinces such as Lai Chau, Bac Kan , Quang Ninh,...

According to the report of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from the night of May 22 to the morning of May 23, 2025, in the provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang , Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, there was heavy rain, with common rainfall of 40-70mm, some places over 100mm, locally at Lam Binh station (Tuyen Quang) 256mm. It is forecasted that on May 23 and 24, 2025, the Northeast region and the Northern Delta will have moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms, locally very heavy rain (rainfall of 60-130mm, some places over 220mm), the Northwest region will have rain of 40-70mm, locally over 150mm; need to be on guard against locally high intensity rain (over 120mm in 2-3 hours) causing flash floods, landslides, and inundation.

In that situation, the Prime Minister requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of the above-mentioned provinces and cities to direct relevant agencies and units (Directors of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Chairmen of the People's Committees at district and commune levels) to continue to closely monitor the situation, organize and promptly and effectively implement measures to proactively respond to natural disasters, especially landslides, flash floods, and localized flooding to ensure safety of life and reduce property damage of the People and the State. There must be absolutely no interruption in the leadership and direction of response to natural disasters when implementing the rearrangement of administrative units and organization of local governments at 2 levels.

The Minister of Agriculture and Environment is requested by the Prime Minister to direct and organize close monitoring of weather and natural disaster situations; to issue warnings, forecasts and provide timely information to ministries, branches, localities and people to proactively deploy effective response work.

Along with that, the Ministry needs to proactively direct relevant sectors and localities to implement specific measures to prevent, combat and overcome the consequences of natural disasters in accordance with actual developments, based on assigned functions, tasks and authority. In case of issues beyond its authority, it must promptly report and advise on proposals for the Prime Minister to consider and direct.

The Ministry is also assigned to direct, inspect, and urge localities to focus on handling and overcoming incidents of dikes, dams, and natural disaster prevention and control works that occurred during the 2024 storm season and in the past, in order to proactively prevent damage caused by natural disasters and floods in the coming time.

At the same time, the Ministry needs to closely coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Home Affairs to urgently review and guide localities to perfect the agencies performing the tasks of directing and commanding natural disaster prevention, control and search and rescue, in accordance with the two-level local government organization model.

The Prime Minister assigned the Minister of Industry and Trade to direct the implementation of work to ensure the safety of hydroelectric dams; coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in directing the operation of hydroelectric reservoirs, ensuring absolute safety for large hydroelectric projects on the Red River system, and at the same time effectively using water resources for power generation during the peak hot months.

The Minister of Construction directed the review and implementation of plans to ensure traffic safety and traffic infrastructure and construction works in case of natural disasters, promptly repair landslides and traffic routes that have been cut off, and ensure smooth traffic, especially on national highways and main traffic routes.

The Ministry of National Defense shall coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies to urgently complete and submit to the Government for promulgation a Decree detailing a number of articles of the Law on Civil Defense in accordance with the organizational arrangement of the political system and the organization of two-level local governments in May 2025; preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to guide localities to perfect the agencies performing the tasks of directing and commanding natural disaster prevention and control and search and rescue when organizing two-level local governments; direct Military Regions and forces stationed in the area to review, develop plans, proactively mobilize forces and means to coordinate with localities and relevant forces to deploy disaster response, search and rescue and quickly overcome the consequences of natural disasters according to regulations.

The Ministry of Public Security directs local police, especially grassroots police forces, to develop plans and proactively deploy support for people to prevent, combat, and overcome the consequences of natural disasters and incidents, and to search and rescue when situations arise.

General Director: Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency coordinate with relevant agencies to direct the strengthening of communication, raising awareness, providing guidance on disaster prevention and control skills for the people; updating forecast information, reporting promptly and accurately on the developments of natural disasters so that people know and proactively respond appropriately.

Thanh Ha

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/bac-bo-nguy-co-lu-quet-sat-lo-thu-tuong-ra-cong-dien-chi-dao-khan-post549481.html