Continue to improve the quality of disaster forecasting, disaster prevention and control management capacity and search and rescue

That was the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Head of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, at the national online conference on natural disaster prevention and control (PCTT) and search and rescue (TKCN) in 2024 held in Hanoi this morning, May 10.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang asked international organizations to continue to pay attention, share, support and accompany Vietnam in disaster prevention and control and search and rescue work - Photo: NB

In 2023, extreme natural disasters occurred in all regions of the country with 1,964 natural disasters, especially heavy rains causing landslides, flash floods, and widespread flooding. Natural disasters caused great damage to people, property, infrastructure, affecting people's lives and production.

Many accidents at sea, construction collapses, chemical incidents, oil spills, fires, and explosions occurred more frequently and with greater severity than the previous year. Nationwide, 5,331 incidents and natural disasters occurred, causing 1,129 deaths and missing people. Economic losses due to natural disasters were estimated at over VND9,324 billion.

Since the beginning of 2024, a number of serious natural disasters have occurred nationwide, such as: severe cold in the Northern and North Central regions; drought, saltwater intrusion, landslides, land subsidence and flooding due to high tides in the Mekong Delta; drought in the Central Highlands; heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and hail in the Northern, North Central, Central Highlands and Southern regions.

In addition, record-breaking heat was recorded at 110/186 monitoring stations nationwide; earthquakes occurred in provinces and cities such as Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Tuyen Quang... From the beginning of 2024 until now, natural disasters have caused 14 deaths and missing people, with material damage estimated at over 399 billion VND.

Continue to improve the quality of disaster forecasting, disaster prevention and control management capacity and search and rescue

Delegates attending the conference at Quang Tri bridge point - Photo: NB

According to the assessment of natural disasters and forecasts of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from July to September 2024, the ENSO phenomenon is likely to shift to La Nina status. The number of storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea is approximately the average of many years (about 11 to 13 storms in the East Sea; 5 to 7 storms make landfall), especially concentrated in the second half of the rainy and stormy season.

In addition, floods on rivers from Quang Binh to Khanh Hoa and small rivers and streams in the North may be at alert level 2 and alert level 3; there is a risk of flooding in urban areas and cities due to localized heavy rains and the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous provinces.

To prevent, respond to and minimize damage caused by natural disasters and incidents, the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has set out key tasks: Implementing legal documents and directions of the Party, State and Government, reviewing, supplementing and perfecting the system of legal documents on natural disaster prevention and control.

Advise on the organization and operation of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, the Standing Office of the Civil Defense Steering Committee, the Civil Defense Command Committees of ministries and local levels after the Decree guiding the implementation of the Law on Civil Defense is issued.

Strengthening the work of preventing and controlling natural disaster risks. Improving the quality of forecasting, warning, monitoring and supervision of natural disasters. Organizing, directing, commanding and effectively implementing the work of responding to natural disasters and major incidents...

Concluding the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang emphasized: In 2023 and the first months of 2024, Vietnam had to face many types of natural disasters. The damage caused by natural disasters was minimized, showing that central ministries and localities have been more proactive, especially in forecasting and response work.

In the coming time, ministries, branches, People's Committees of provinces and cities are required to continue reviewing and perfecting the Command Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Civil Defense at all levels. Strengthen and diversify forms of propaganda to raise awareness of all levels, ministries, branches and the community about PCTT.

At the same time, strengthen inspection and supervision, especially before the flood season; review and recalculate the disaster prevention and control plans of each ministry, branch, unit and locality. Improve the quality of natural disaster forecasting and the capacity to manage disaster prevention and control work at all levels.

We request that international organizations continue to pay attention, share, support and accompany Vietnam in disaster prevention and control, search and rescue, especially in hydrometeorological forecasting, and experience in responding to and overcoming natural disasters.

Nhon Four

Source