Gov’t urges quick recovery measures in Central Region
VGP - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on ministries, sectors and provincial authorities to urgently focus on overcoming the aftermath of recent floods, restoring production and business activities, and stabilising livelihoods in central Viet Nam.
The directive was sent to the Party Secretaries and Chairpersons of the People's Committees of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces, as well as ministers and leaders of central-level agencies.
With rainfall easing and floodwaters receding, the Prime Minister instructed authorities in Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces to concentrate on the recovery phase. Provincial leaders have to assign clear responsibilities to members of their Standing Committees and deploy them to the grassroots—particularly areas that had been isolated or heavily inundated—to assess the situation and direct "rapid, urgent and effective" recovery efforts.
All previously isolated households must be reached by all possible means and immediately provided with food, clean water and essential supplies. "No one should be left hungry, thirsty or cold," the Prime Minister stressed. Local authorities must also continue search and rescue operations for missing persons, provide medical treatment to the injured, and support funeral arrangements for victims.
Simultaneously, localities are required to conduct swift cleanup and sanitation of homes, roads, schools, health centres and factories. Essential services—including electricity, water, telecommunications, healthcare and education—must be fully restored by November 30, 2025.
Temporary accommodation must be arranged for displaced households, while major house repairs should be completed with the support of the armed forces and public security forces by November 30, 2025. Reconstruction or relocation of homes that collapsed or suffered serious damage must be finished by January 31, 2026.
The Government also urges localities to conduct accurate and comprehensive damage assessments and to mobilise available resources to support affected people in line with regulations. Relief supplies must be distributed in a centralised, transparent and equitable manner to needy residents. Authorities should publicise lists of urgently needed items so that organisations and individuals can provide targeted assistance.
Specific tasks for ministries
The Ministry of National Defence has to deploy additional forces and equipment to transport relief supplies, use helicopters and UAVs to airdrop aid to isolated areas.
The Ministry of Public Security needs to mobilise police forces to assist disaster response and help resume production and business operations.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment bears the prime responsibility for supporting the restoration of agricultural production; provide inputs, livestock and seedlings; repair dams and reservoirs; and reviewing flood-management operations to ensure long-term safety.
The Ministry of Finance has to assess damage; propose urgent and long-term recovery solutions; submit a draft Government Resolution on disaster recovery by November 26, 2025; implement tax and fee relief; and direct insurers to expedite compensation.
The Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for restoring schooling and enabling students to return to class as soon as possible; assessing damages and reporting to the Prime Minister by November 30, 2025; and providing books and teaching equipment to affected students.
The Ministry of Health must ensure uninterrupted medical services; supply medicines, equipment and disinfectants; send medical teams to prevent post-flood epidemics; and coordinate with the World Health Organization for urgent assistance.
The Ministry of Construction has to clear landslide-affected sections of expressways, national highways and major roads; review long-term traffic safety solutions.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is in charge of restoring power in affected communes; supporting industrial recovery; ensure essential goods supply; preventing hoarding and price gouging.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has to require telecom providers to prioritise restoration of communications infrastructure by November 30, 2025.
The State Bank of Viet Nam shall direct credit institutions to provide debt relief, loan rescheduling and interest-rate reductions for affected individuals and enterprises.
As of late November 23, exceptionally heavy and prolonged rainfall triggered historic flooding and severe landslides—particularly in Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Lam Dong. The Politburo, Secretariat, Government and Prime Minister have maintained continuous direction from the early stages, with several Politburo members and Deputy Prime Ministers dispatched to the disaster areas to inspect damage, console residents and oversee relief operations.
Thanks to the engagement of the entire political system, losses were mitigated. However, prolonged rainfall combined with high tides caused catastrophic flooding, inflicting severe damage on human life, homes, property and key infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, transport routes, irrigation systems, power supply and telecommunications.
The floods have left 102 people dead and missing, destroyed or severely damaged over 1,100 houses, ruined more than 80,000 hectares of rice and crops, and caused the loss of over 3.2 million head of livestock and poultry. Total economic losses are estimated at VND 9,035 billion equivalent to US$343 million.
On behalf of the Party and State leadership, Prime Minister Chinh conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and expressed solidarity with authorities and people in the affected localities./.
