Prime Minister holds urgent meeting on response and overcoming consequences of floods in Central Vietnam

Immediately after returning home from Malaysia, at 7 a.m. this morning, October 29, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an urgent online meeting with several central localities on response and recovery from natural disasters and floods.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha attended the meeting at the Hue City bridge. According to the report of Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang, the historic flood caused flooding in 32/40 communes and wards with 35,000 households in Hue and over 75,000 households in Da Nang .

The reservoirs have been operating to reduce floods downstream, of which A Vuong hydropower plant has reduced nearly 451 million m3 ^and Song Bung 4 hydropower plant has reduced 327 million m3 ^for downstream.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an urgent meeting on responding to and overcoming the consequences of floods in the Central region. PHOTO: THANH GIANG

The Government and the Prime Minister have directed very early and focused on directing ministries, branches and localities to deploy timely and effective flood response work, closely following the situation. Over 7,000 households with over 21,000 people in flooded areas, at risk of landslides and flash floods have been evacuated.

The flood situation is still complicated; provinces and cities need to focus on implementing response measures in accordance with the Prime Minister's instructions in official dispatches.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will continue to direct forecasting agencies to strengthen forecasting and warning information and provide people and authorities with the earliest, fastest, most timely and accurate information.

Mr. Thang also requested that localities mobilize forces, especially armed forces, to check areas that are deeply flooded and at risk of flash floods and landslides. Resolutely evacuate people to safe shelters.

Access to deeply flooded and isolated areas to promptly provide relief food, supplies, and drinking water to people. Support people in repairing houses and cleaning up the environment immediately after the flood recedes.

At the same time, urgently synthesize the damage and support needs, especially famine relief rice, plant varieties, and dewatering chemicals, and send them to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Ministry of Health to provide timely support to the people.

"Continue to monitor the reservoir operation to ensure the safety of the project and not increase flooding downstream. Urgently check, have immediate solutions to fix the problem, and restore information and power grid as soon as safety is ensured," the Minister of Agriculture and Environment requested.

In addition, it is necessary to urgently mobilize forces, materials, and means to overcome and clear traffic routes, especially national highways. Ministries, branches, and localities continue to maintain forces ready to carry out tasks to handle problems that arise when the flood situation is still complicated and prolonged.

From the Hue City bridge, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha assessed that the direction was timely and the forecasting was quite accurate. Therefore, the response and prevention work of localities, especially in Hue City, was generally methodical, especially the military and police forces were proactive and actively participated from the beginning.

Up to now, although the affected area and flooding in Hue City is very large with 32/40 communes and wards, the people and local authorities at two levels have made efforts to respond, and the Party Committee and the government have paid close attention to the people's situation.

Currently, the floodwaters in Hue City have receded quite quickly, so in the coming days, the city will continue to monitor the highlands and areas prone to flash floods and landslides. The evacuation of people from before will continue until October 31. Other activities, such as traffic and environmental sanitation, have also been specifically directed to be implemented during and after the flood.

Hue City has mobilized ships, rescue boats and military vehicles to serve deeply flooded areas. Military Region 4 is providing direct support, Military Region 5 is maintaining readiness, ensuring the implementation of the "four on-the-spot" motto in military units and localities.

Regarding post-flood support, Hue City proposed to supplement local supplies for production areas, ensure environmental sanitation and prevent and control epidemics. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will mobilize chemicals and equipment from the national reserve to meet this need.

This morning, the Deputy Prime Minister's working delegation will inspect a number of localities, visit and assess the traffic situation and continue to inspect the response and recovery situation of floods in Da Nang.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-tuong-hop-khan-ve-ung-pho-khac-phuc-hau-qua-mua-lu-mien-trung-185251029085325253.htm