Government conference discusses solutions to deal with typhoon Yagi's aftermath

The event was connected to the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and 26 northern provinces and cities, with the participation of cabinet members and representatives from localities affected by typhoon Yagi.

Before beginning the conference, participants observed a minute of silence to commemorate the victims who died due to floods and landslides caused by the most powerful typhoon over the past three decades in the East Sea.

In his speech, PM Chinh emphasized that Yagi is the strongest storm in the 70- year history with great intensity, high speed, wide range, many impacts, lasting for many hours when making landfall in Vietnam, thus causing heavy, long-term, widespread floods, serious consequences, loss of human life and property, and material and spiritual damage.

With the spirit of "all for the people, for national development," the Government chief asked the participants to give opinions, and propose tasks and solutions to urgently address the aftermath, swiftly stabilize life, resume production and business activities aimed at promoting economic growth, Chinh said.

The cabinet leader also ordered swift actions be taken to effectively settle the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, stabilize people’s life, and restore production and business activities to reach the unchanged economic growth target of 7%.

Since the super typhoon formed and slammed into the East Sea, with a risk of affecting Vietnam's mainland, the Politburo and the Government have directed and kept a close watch on the typhoon’s developments in order to have prompt response. Leaders of the Party, State, and members of the Politburo have directly visited affected areas to inspect and urge efforts in preventing, responding to, and addressing the consequences caused by the natural disaster.

It is worth noting that the Prime Minister issued nine urgent dispatches directing the work of preventing, coping with and overcoming the consequences of the typhoon as well as subsequent floods, landslides, and inundation; ensuring the safety of Thac Ba hydropower reservoir in Yen Bai province, Hoang Long dike in Ninh Binh province; and regulating the hydropower reservoirs in Lai Chau, Son La, and Hoa Binh provinces. Relevant ministries, sectors, and local authorities, especially key forces, have coordinated closely and directly become involved in preventing, combating, responding to, and overcoming the consequences of the typhoon.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Government, the PM, and relevant ministries, sectors and local authorities proactively directed early and from afar and closely followed the developments of the typhoon and floods.

The forces, particularly the army, police, and grassroots disaster response forces, have strictly adhered to the PM's directions, thereby guiding over 51,310 fishing boats and vehicles, transport ships operating at sea with nearly 220,000 people to leave dangerous areas or stay at safe shelters; launching the evacuation of 52,979 people on fish farms, aquaculture watchtowers, and weak houses to safe places; evacuating and relocating over 74,520 households with 130,246 people in flood-prone areas to safe locations.

The army have mobilized  personnel and vehicles to respond to the typhoon and  address floods, landslides, and flash floods. Meanwhile, more than 150,000 police officers and soldiers have engaged in the response and recovery efforts following Typhoon Yagi. Local authorities, disaster response teams, youth unions, and other forces have carried out response measures and deal with the disaster aftermath.

Party committees and local authorities have effectively directed communication efforts, providing timely information for the public about the developments of the typhoon and floods, as well as directions from the Government, the PM, and disaster response and search and rescue agencies at all levels, to ensure proactive respond to the natural disasters.

Statistics from localities show that as of September 15, heavy rains and floods, landslides triggered by super Typhoon Yagi, had left more than 350 dead or missing and 1,921 injuries. Nearly 232,000 houses were damaged; over 190,000 ha of rice fields, almost 48,000 ha of crops and nearly 32,000 ha of fruit trees were inundated and devastated; 3,269 fish farming cages were destroyed or swept away; and over 2.6 million poultry and cattle died.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment estimated material losses at around VND40 trillion VND or over US$1.6 billion.

Many shops, offices, and schools were unroofed and damaged; numerous electricity and telecommunication poles and mobile network towers were toppled; and urban trees were uprooted or broken. There were widespread power outages and communication disruptions in many localities, including some areas in Hanoi.

Before, during and after the typhoon, the Party, State, Party committees, authorities at all levels, armed forces and people nationwide have strongly and synchronously deployed many solutions to minimize damage caused by the typhoon and floods.

Up to now, the amount of donated money to support people affected by the typhoon has reached more than VND 1,001 billion which will be delivered to people in difficult circumstances in the flood-hit areas, thus helping them soon overcome difficulties and stabilize their lives.