Northern localities urged to take drastic measurse to deal with floods, landslides

The document was addressed to the Chairmen of the People’s Committees of Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Ha Noi, Ha Nam, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An.

Local leaders are responsible for keeping a close watch on the situation, promptly taking response measures, and deploying forces and vehicles to evacuate their residents to safer places.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment was tasked to instruct the hydrometeorological forecasting center to keep an eye on the developments of the disasters, and inform competent agencies and people in a timely fashion.

Meanwhile, the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, and Transport must work to ensure the safety of dams and reservoirs, and rapidly handle incidents in main traffic axis.

The Ministers of Defense and Public Security are ordered to direct armed forces to carry out search and rescue activities as requested by localities.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development is in charge of directing localities to implement suitable response measures.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang was tasked to oversee the work.

Torrential rains for many days in the region since July have triggered flash floods, deep flooding and landslides that have caused severe human and economic losses.

The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting forecast heavy downpours ranging 100-250 mm and even exceeding 400 mm in some localities for the region from August 11 to 15, resulting in flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas and midlands, as well as flooding in low-lying sites and urban areas./.