Proactive and decisive response is necessary to maintain peace.

Global climate change is leading to increasingly extreme and unpredictable natural disasters. The mountainous terrain, numerous rivers, streams, and lakes, along with the impact of human activities, increase the risk of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging, making disaster prevention and control in Lao Cai an even more urgent task.

Although the province has always paid special attention to disaster prevention and control, natural disasters consistently cause extremely severe consequences.

By 2025, the entire province will have 15,000 houses damaged by natural disasters.

In 2025 alone, with 25 natural disasters, the province suffered 17 deaths and missing persons, 22 injured; over 15,000 houses damaged; and more than 8,000 hectares of rice, corn, vegetables, and forestry affected. 614 irrigation works, 79 schools, 17 health stations, and 812 BTS stations were damaged. The total estimated damage exceeded 2,821 billion VND.

In particular, in September 2025, several major floods occurred on the Thao and Chay rivers, with water levels exceeding alarm level III at times, causing serious consequences and creating significant pressure on flood prevention and control efforts.

8,000 hectares of rice, corn, vegetables, and forestry trees were affected.

Although the rainy and stormy season hasn't officially begun, in the first few months of this year, many localities in the province have suffered serious damage due to extreme weather conditions.

For example, on March 22nd, Thuong Bang La commune suffered a thunderstorm accompanied by a tornado, injuring 2 people, damaging 650 houses, affecting 150 hectares of crops, with total losses exceeding 5 billion VND. In the early morning of April 16th, a severe hailstorm in Muong Khuong, Bac Ha, affected 338 households, damaged 485.5 hectares of crops, with total losses estimated at around 40 billion VND...

Mr. Tran Van Hoc from Van Phu ward shared: "Natural disasters are becoming increasingly severe, unusual, and unpredictable. Worryingly, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and especially flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, and flooding along rivers are increasing in intensity, causing damage to state infrastructure and endangering people's lives and property."

According to the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, in 2026 there will be approximately 5-6 typhoons and tropical depressions active in the East Sea, of which 2-3 typhoons are likely to directly affect Lao Cai , with a high probability of extreme rainfall; at the same time, there will be about 25-28 cold fronts. This is a major challenge, requiring thorough and coordinated preparation from all levels, sectors, and the government to every citizen.

Rescue forces assist residents of Yen Bai ward during the September 2025 flood.

Therefore, it is absolutely essential for all levels, sectors, and localities to strictly comply with legal regulations and directives from the Central Government and the province regarding disaster prevention and control.

The focus of this includes Directive 07/CT-UBND dated April 21, 2026, issued by the Chairman of the People's Committee of Lao Cai province, on strengthening disaster prevention and search and rescue work, and the guidance of Mr. Phan Trung Ba, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the province, at the Conference summarizing the work on disaster prevention and search and rescue in 2025 and outlining the tasks for 2026 of the province.

Conference summarizing disaster prevention and search and rescue work in 2025, and outlining directions and tasks for 2026.

In reality, serious adherence to disaster prevention and control measures is a decisive factor in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters. Therefore, to effectively and practically prevent and mitigate natural disasters, it is first necessary to thoroughly overcome complacency and negligence, and to address disaster prevention and control "on paper" only.

Serious implementation will overcome limitations such as: confusion in coordinating on-site command; difficulties in mobilizing forces and resources; updating damage data; restoring infrastructure; reviewing eligible recipients; and relocating residents from high-risk areas...

Accordingly, it is necessary to review and strengthen the Civil Defense Command at all levels in a streamlined manner, with clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability; update disaster prevention and control plans and response plans according to different levels of disaster risk, ensuring feasibility and relevance to reality.

Urgent measures are needed to address landslides and flooding.

Local authorities are urged to promptly review and repair damaged or deteriorated transportation, irrigation, water supply, school, health station, and other essential infrastructure before the 2026 rainy season. At the same time, they should proactively prepare personnel, equipment, supplies, and essential goods to respond promptly when natural disasters occur.

In particular, inspect and review high-risk areas for landslides, flash floods, riverbanks, steep slopes, and unsafe residential areas; develop plans to relocate people and property to safe places, and resolutely prevent people from remaining in dangerous areas when warnings have been issued.

Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated: The province currently has 166 reservoirs and irrigation dams, of which 16 are at high risk of failure. The department has coordinated with local authorities and management units to conduct thorough inspections and reviews, and subsequently propose solutions to address the issues before the rainy season. The highest priority is ensuring the safety of the structures and the lives and property of people in downstream areas.

To mitigate natural disasters, improving knowledge and information is crucial. Therefore, it is necessary to continue improving the quality of forecasts, especially the early prediction of the likelihood and development of complex weather situations; and to provide timely data on water flow and rainfall to facilitate timely response measures.

Mr. Le Thanh Hung, Chairman of the Dong Cuong Commune People's Committee, said: "Information dissemination, propaganda, and warnings about weather developments and natural disasters to enable people to respond promptly; and effectively implementing the 'four on-the-spot' principles are decisive factors in minimizing damage."

In addition, continue to strengthen communication and apply technology in providing information about natural disasters to the people; integrate knowledge of disaster prevention and control into community life, cultural and educational activities, ensuring they are appropriate to the actual conditions in each locality.

To mitigate damage caused by natural disasters, the effective implementation of the "four on-the-spot" principles plays a decisive role.

Natural disasters are becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable, but with the guidance of the province, the proactive involvement of various sectors, local Party committees and authorities, as well as individual citizens, we believe that the damage caused by natural disasters in 2026 and beyond will be mitigated, and people will be able to live peacefully.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chu-dong-quyet-liet-ung-pho-de-giu-lay-binh-yen-post899133.html