Thanks to preparations, damage caused by natural disasters reduced significantly from 2011 to 2015. According to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, some of the worst impacts of natural disasters on people and the environment were curbed to below the 2006-2010 period. However, a series of abnormal conditions have occurred in the last 5 years including Quang Ninh record rainfall in the past 50 years, the southern central region’s 60-year record high temperatures, and the Mekong River’s record low water level. Therefore, natural disaster prevention should obviously be an integral part of socio-economic development planning for the next 5 years.
"We need to plans so we’re ready no matter how surprising the scenarios. We must take into account the effects of climate change on infrastructure construction and economic development. The impact of climate change must be effectively mitigated." - Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
"The number of deaths from floods and heavy rain still accounted for up to 62.2% and from tornadoes and landslides reached 16%. We need to point out which locality has the highest number of dead people due to such disasters and require them to make detailed recovery and response plans and submit them to the Steering Committee." - Hoang Trung Hai, Deputy Prime Minister.
Vietnam intends to put into use a disaster warning system, especially for earthquakes and tsunamis in high-risk localities.
