Prime Minister directs focus on responding to and overcoming flood consequences in Central region

Telegram sent to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control; National Committee for Incident and Disaster Response and Search and Rescue; Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Transport, Industry and Trade, National Defense, Public Security, Education and Training; Chairmen of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities: Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen.

*Prime Minister directs focus on responding to and overcoming flood consequences in Central region*

According to the Official Dispatch, from November 12, 2023 to present, in the Central region, there has been prolonged heavy rain, causing flooding, landslides, property damage, affecting people's lives and production; in Thua Thien Hue, there has been exceptionally heavy rain, with total rainfall in 24 hours (from November 14 to 15) of about 800 - 900 mm, causing widespread flooding, especially in Hue city, Huong Tra town, Huong Thuy town, ...

According to the forecast of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from the night of November 15 to November 17, in the Central region, especially Thua Thien Hue, there will continue to be heavy to very heavy rain; in the context of continuous heavy rain in the past days, most reservoirs are basically full of water, the soil is saturated with water, so there is a high risk of continued widespread flooding, especially landslides and flash floods in mountainous areas and steep slopes.

The Prime Minister requested the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the National Committee for Incident and Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, Ministers, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities to closely monitor the developments of floods and storms, focus on directing and proactively implementing timely and effective response and recovery work, ensuring safety of life, minimizing property damage and impact on production and people's lives.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province and provinces and cities focused on directing the safety of people's lives: Directing local radio, television and mass media to increase propaganda, dissemination and guidance for people to implement safety measures and limit damage when floods occur.

Continue to direct and mobilize forces to organize inspections, promptly detect, proactively evacuate and relocate people and vehicles (including households and agencies and units) in dangerous areas that do not ensure safety, especially in deeply flooded areas, along rivers, streams, and areas at risk of landslides and flash floods.

Deploy forces to guard, strictly control, and guide safe traffic for people and vehicles, especially at culverts, spillways, deeply flooded areas, areas with strong currents, areas where landslides have occurred or are at risk of landslides; resolutely do not allow people and vehicles to pass through if safety is not ensured; do not allow unfortunate human losses due to carelessness or subjectivity.

Based on the specific situation in the locality, decide to let students stay home from school to ensure safety; proactively direct and deploy measures to ensure safety for teachers, students, and educational facilities in flooded areas.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province and provinces and cities coordinate with relevant agencies to proactively direct the safe operation of irrigation and hydropower works and reservoirs in the area to ensure safety for the works and safety for downstream areas, prevent artificial floods, and contribute to reducing floods for downstream areas; deploy work to ensure the safety of dikes and dams according to the alarm level, especially for key works under construction, to minimize damage.

Organize emergency relief of food and necessities for households at risk of hunger, especially those forced to evacuate due to floods, landslides, and households in deeply flooded and isolated areas, so that people do not go hungry, cold, or have no place to live. Timely organize and implement support policies and regimes for households affected by natural disasters in accordance with the law.

Proactively deploy forces and vehicles in key areas to support people in evacuating and carry out rescue work when situations arise.

Direct the work of quickly overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, environmental sanitation, restoring production activities, people's lives, and students' studies immediately after the flood recedes.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment closely monitors and supervises natural disaster situations, warns, forecasts, and provides complete and timely information to competent authorities to serve the direction and response to floods and storms according to regulations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, according to their assigned state management functions, coordinate with localities to direct the effective operation and ensure the safety of irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs; and direct the work of ensuring safety for agricultural and industrial production and power systems in flooded areas.

The Ministry of Education and Training coordinates with localities to direct the work of ensuring safety for teachers, students, equipment, tools and learning materials.

The Ministry of Transport directs coordination with localities to ensure traffic safety, promptly handle incidents, and ensure smooth traffic, especially on main traffic routes.

The National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response and Search and Rescue and the Ministries of National Defense and Public Security proactively direct forces stationed in the area to coordinate and support localities in implementing flood response work according to regulations.

Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency, Nhan Dan Newspaper and other media agencies should increase reporting and proactively guide people on skills to prevent, respond to, and reduce damage caused by natural disasters.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control closely monitors the flood situation, proactively directs, inspects and urges localities to promptly deploy disaster prevention, control and overcoming consequences within its authority; reports and proposes to the Prime Minister to direct the handling of issues beyond its authority.

The Government Office monitors, urges and reports to the Prime Minister according to assigned functions and tasks.

Source