Government chief orders sustained efforts to respond to floods, seventh storm

Heavy downpours are forecast to continue in the coming days, posing a high risk of flash floods, landslides, and rising waters in many places across the central region.

The government leader asked People’s Committees in central localities to keep a close watch on developments to take prompt measures in response while attention should be paid to evacuating people from dangerous areas and assisting them with temporary accommodation and food.

The Ministries of National Defence and Public Security were asked to support local people in dealing with torrential rains and floods and overcoming the consequences, while the Ministry of Transport was required to ensure the safety of vessels and vehicles as well as of roads, waterways, and railways in affected areas.

Meanwhile, media agencies need to step up communications regarding rain and flood developments to provide accurate forecasts to related offices and the public, he said.

According to the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, storm Nangka, the seventh this year, is moving in the northwest direction and is expected to make landfall in the Gulf of Tonkin on the morning of October 14.

The centre has also warned provinces from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Nam to expect rains of up to 700 mm and Quang Tri and Quang Ngai to get up to 600 mm over coming days. Floods and heavy rain are expected to last until the end of this week, it said.

To cope with the situation, the Ministry of National Defense has called for the mobilization of soldiers, police officers and civilian volunteers to stand by to help people in flood-hit areas.

Severe flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the central region have left at least 20 people dead and 14 others missing so far.

Meanwhile, Tran Thanh Man, president of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, offered his sympathies on October 12 to authorities and families who have been affected by recent flooding in the central and Central Highlands regions.

Over the past few days these regions have also suffered heavy losses in terms of crops, aquaculture, livestock, and poultry farming.

The Standing Board of the VFF Central Committee have also expressed how highly they value local authorities, whilst VFF committees and organisations will strive to be responsible for search and rescue efforts, whilst also providing assistance to individuals in flood-hit places.

Due to the impact of flooding in the region, VFF committees in these localities have also been requested to co-ordinate with local administrations and steering boards relating to natural disaster prevention and control. This will be done in a bid to help families who have become victims of the recent weather, whilst continuing to list human and property losses in a report to the Standing Board in order to provide additional support to those in need. As a means of assisting flood victims, the VFF Central Committee’s Standing Board has decided to offer an initial sum of VND5 million to each family that has a dead or missing relative, in addition to VND3 million for each seriously injured victim.