Viet Nam steps up preparations for El Nino impacts
VGP - The Prime Minister has directed ministries, agencies and localities to proactively implement measures to respond to El Nino, focusing on ensuring water security, preventing drought and saltwater intrusion, and minimizing damage caused by natural disasters.
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is currently in its El Niño phase, which is forecast to maintain strong intensity in the final months of 2026 and early 2027. The phenomenon is expected to increase the risks of extreme heat, drought, water shortages, saltwater intrusion and forest fires, while potentially triggering heavy rainfall, flooding and other unusual and dangerous weather events.
To proactively prevent and respond to El Nino and minimize losses caused by natural disasters, the Prime Minister has requested ministries, agencies and localities to strictly implement the directions of the General Secretary and State President set out in Notice No. 117-TB/VPTW of the Party Central Committee Office on storm and flood prevention and control, extreme natural disasters and climate change.
They are also required to take early and proactive response measures, keeping a close watch on developments and tailoring solutions to actual conditions in each locality to ensure timely and effective responses.
Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees must urgently review and update response plans based on water availability and natural disaster scenarios, including scenarios involving more adverse conditions than forecast.
Localities are required to identify areas and groups at high risk, specify response measures, resources and responsibilities down to the commune level, and proactively prepare plans to protect and evacuate residents when necessary, avoiding passivity and unexpected situations.
They must regularly inspect and assess water reserves at reservoirs, irrigation systems and clean water supply facilities; identify areas at risk of domestic water shortages; and develop contingency plans, including alternative water sources and connections between water supply systems to provide mutual support.
Priority must be given to supplying water for daily needs, healthcare and other essential services, particularly in schools, hospitals, ethnic minority and mountainous areas, coastal communities and locations frequently affected by water shortages.
Local authorities are also tasked with mobilizing forces and vehicles and requesting support from military and police units stationed in their areas to transport and distribute water to residents when necessary.
In addition, localities must review drainage and flood prevention plans for urban areas, residential communities and production zones in anticipation of unusually heavy rainfall. They are required to inspect the operational capacity of drainage networks, pumping stations, sluice gates, regulating lakes and flood prevention infrastructure.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been tasked with developing plans for the rational use of energy resources and mobilizing alternative power sources in case of water shortages at hydropower reservoirs during the 2026-2027 dry season.
The ministry must also direct Viet Nam Electricity (EVN) and reservoir operators to formulate water storage plans and ensure reservoir operations comply with approved single-reservoir and inter-reservoir operating procedures.
The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security must proactively prepare personnel, vehicles and supplies, standing ready to support localities upon request.
Their forces will participate in water transportation and distribution, forest fire prevention and control, evacuation, search and rescue, and the handling of serious and complex situations, while maintaining security and public order in disaster-affected areas in accordance with their assigned functions and responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance will coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies and localities to consolidate funding requirements and submit them to competent authorities for consideration of financial assistance from the central budget and the release of national reserve supplies for urgent response efforts.
These resources will be used to address drought, water shortages, saltwater intrusion, flooding and inundation.
The Ministry of Construction is responsible for directing localities and water supply units to develop and implement safe domestic water supply plans for urban areas in line with different water availability scenarios./.