Deputy PM Mai Van Chinh inspects flood damage at Hue Imperial Citadel
VGP - Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on October 31 inspected flood-affected areas in the central city of Hue, calling for drastic measures to safeguard the UNESCO-recognized Complex of Hue Monuments from increasingly severe weather events.
Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh (second from R) expresses sympathy for the losses suffered by residents in flood-hit areas due to prolonged heavy rains, while commending the proactive spirit, solidarity, and mutual support shown by local authorities and residents in disaster response, rescue operations, recovery efforts, and heritage protection.
He emphasized the urgency of improving drainage systems, waterproofing, foundation reinforcement, and artifact preservation to protect the heritage site from future disasters.
The Deputy PM requested the city's authorities and the Hue Monuments Conservation Center to assess vulnerable structures, develop long-term climate adaptation plans, and accelerate post-flood recovery efforts to reopen the site to visitors as soon as possible, while ensuring the safety of both staff and residents amid unstable weather conditions.
Between October 25 and 30, prolonged heavy rains triggered by a strengthened cold air mass and high-altitude easterly disturbances caused two major rounds of flooding in Hue, inundating parts of the heritage complex.
Thanks to proactive prevention measures, major losses were avoided, though several components sustained minor damage, posing potential risks to the long-term preservation of the historic site.
According to the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), torrential rains and floods have wreaked havoc across central Viet Nam, submerging and damaging about 4,871 hectares of rice and other crops.
As of 7:00 am on October 31, flooding was still affecting 69 communes and wards, though water levels were gradually receding. The disasters have so far left 24 people dead or missing and injured 34 others.
The MAE directed localities to promptly restore agricultural production and minimize long-term impacts on the sector. Provinces have been asked to complete damage assessments and submit proposals for food aid to affected households by November 1 to ensure timely support and stabilization of people's lives.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh earlier issued an official telegram instructing ministries, agencies, and local authorities in the central region to take immediate and effective actions to address the severe flooding, stabilize livelihoods, and resume production and business activities.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha was assigned to directly oversee recovery efforts, while Deputy Prime Ministers Mai Van Chinh and Ho Quoc Dung were tasked with inspecting severely affected and isolated areas to guide local responses.
On October 31, Deputy Prime Minister Tran inspected recovery La Son – Hoa Lien Expressway after heavy rains triggered landslides that blocked traffic between Hue and Da Nang. He ordered a comprehensive review of the expressway’s design and construction to determine the causes of the damage and to prevent future incidents.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha directs recovery efforts for La Son – Hoa Lien Expressway to prevent further landslides.
On October 28, he visited residents along Chi Lang Street in Phu Xuan Ward, Hue City, to assess ongoing flood response efforts. He called for continued assistance to affected households and stressed the need to ensure power and water supply and environmental sanitation. He also instructed relevant ministries and sectors to carefully consider Hue's proposals, particularly regarding investment in and renovation of irrigation infrastructure./.
