PM issues directions to overcome floods and landslides consequences

Over the past few days, heavy rain has caused serious damage to people, property and infrastructure, greatly affecting production and people's lives in the provinces.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged organisations to quickly assist local people in Điện Biên, Sơn La and Nghệ An provinces to overcome flash floods and landslides.

His call comes as the Government pledges VNĐ250 billion (US$9.5 million) to help people affected return to normal lives.

Over the past few days, heavy rain has caused serious damage to people, property and infrastructure, greatly affecting production and people's lives in the provinces.

To improve natural disaster consequences and quickly stabilise the people's situation, the PM told ministries and localities to take action as quickly as possible with the most urgent and drastic spirit.

He said they need to grasp the people’s needs for food, clean water and other necessities to organise relief as soon as possible and assign forces, means and equipment to assist, not to let the people go hungry, thirsty, cold or homeless.

Electricity and telecommunications systems must be fixed urgently to ensure complete, continuous and timely information.

The ministries of national defence and public security should direct the transportation of food, necessities, drinking water and medicine to provide people in isolated areas; prepare a plan to support by air if the areas cannot accessible by road.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment should instruct agricultural production restoration, especially domestic water, disinfectants, environmental sanitation and seedlings, pay attention to irrigation works, continue to monitor, forecast, warn and provide complete, accurate and timely information on weather conditions to serve the direction and response to natural disasters.

PM Chính asked the Ministry of Construction to guide localities to overcome traffic disruptions, ensuring smooth traffic, especially on highways 12 and 7.

The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Military Telecommunications Group (Viettel), and the Việt Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) must provide guidance in troubleshooting telecommunications signal loss to keep information provided fully and continuously to communes and villages.

The Electricity of Việt Nam (EVN) is responsible for restoring the power system and ensuring safety for hydroelectric dams.

The Ministry of Health must help localities in disinfecting chemicals, medicines, medical examination and treatment as well as disease prevention and control after floods.

PM Chính also requested the Ministry of Education and Training to support provinces in cleaning classrooms, repairing damaged schools and preparing adequate supplies for the new school year.

The Ministry of Finance should work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant agencies to synthesise proposals from localities severely damaged by natural disasters and report to the PM.

Deputy PM Trần Hồng Hà will directly monitor the work. Deputy PM Lê Thành Long will visit and encourage the work in Sơn La Province, whereas Deputy PM Hồ Đức Phớc will inspect the work in Nghệ An Province.

Emergency support

Deputy PM Phớc has announced support of VNĐ250 billion (US$9.5 million) from the central budget for Điện Biên, Sơn La and Nghệ An provinces to initially stabilise the people's lives after floods.

Local people's committees are responsible for managing and using the fund, ensuring compliance with the law and other relevant legal documents, for the right purposes, publicly and transparently.

In recent days, heavy rains have caused flash floods, landslides and serious damage to people and property in the three provinces.

According to the Sơn La People's Committee, in July and early August, the province suffered five consecutive large-scale heavy rain, three of which caused serious consequences.

Five houses were swept away and many roads in Phúng Bánh Commune were eroded and blocked. The National Highway 12 was submerged by 1.2-1.6m. Some suspension bridges in Phúng Bánh, Chiềng Sơ and Mường Lầm were swept away. Fourteen villages were isolated.

The province announced a natural disaster emergency to respond to heavy rains, flash floods and landslides in 14 key communes.

In Điện Biên Province, heavy rain killed 10 people and injured seven others. Property damage is estimated at VNĐ300 billion ($11.4 million). As many as 319 houses collapsed, concentrated in Na Son, Phình Giàng and Xa Dung communes.

Many national highways, inter-commune and inter-village roads were eroded causing traffic jams and isolating many areas. Many irrigation works, schools and office buildings were also damaged and flooded.

The power grid in Tìa Dình, Xa Dung, Na Son and Mường Luân communes was lost. Telecommunications networks were interrupted in many places.

Serious damage also occurred in Nghệ An Province. It is reported that four people died, four others were injured, nearly 7,500 houses collapsed, 40 schools and thousands of hectares of crops were destroyed.

Infrastructure systems such as roads, schools, medical stations and offices were severely damaged.

The total initial damage value is estimated at VNĐ3.5 trillion ($133.5 million).