Floods, landslides hit Central Vietnam again, 14 dead or missing
VOV.VN - In recent days, heavy downpours and landslides have affected several provinces in central Vietnam, resulting in 14 people dead or missing, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported on November 18.
Khanh Hoa province has suffered the heaviest losses, with seven people killed, two missing, and 19 injured. Other victims have been reported in Da Nang, Quang Tri, and Hue.
Continuous heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding across the region, submerging around 14,924 homes. Local authorities have evacuated approximately 5,900 people to safer areas.
The floods have also caused significant damage to agriculture and livestock. In Khanh Hoa, about 7,000 hectares of rice and 430 hectares of perennial crops have been affected. In Dak Lak, 357 livestock and 4,900 poultry have been killed or swept away.
The Prime Minister has expressed deep condolences to families who have lost loved ones, been injured, or gone missing, and shared solidarity with people facing continuous hardships amid subsequent floods and storms.
To proactively respond and minimize casualties and damage, the Prime Minister has instructed relevant ministries, agencies, and leaders of provinces and cities including Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong to take timely and decisive action in flood prevention, response, and recovery, particularly addressing the risks of landslides, flashfloods, and inundation.
Ensuring the safety of citizens must be the top priority, stressed the PM in a directive dated November 17. He asked military, police, and other forces to be deployed immediately to reach isolated areas, provide essential supplies, and evacuate residents as necessary.
The Ministers of Defence and Public Security were tasked with mobilising maximum personnel, equipment, and resources to assist with evacuation, relocation, and flood response. The Minister of Finance was instructed to implement support policies, ensure timely insurance payouts, restore production and business activities, and handle proposals for recovery assistance in accordance with the law.