Prime Minister directs responses to severe flooding

In the face of serious flooding brought by heavy rains over the past few days and typhoon Khanun which freshly emerged in the East Sea, PM Phuc directed the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and local governments, particularly in mountainous provinces, to keep a close watch on the weather conditions and stay vigilant for any emergency.

He asked authorities and military forces of flood-hit provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai and Thanh Hoa to continue search for missing people and move those living in mudslide-prone and other at-risk areas to safety.

He urged the provinces to provide relief to affected families, especially those who lost family members or had injured people. Foods and other supplies alongside temporary accommodation must be provided to those in need.

The PM also requested the provinces and ministries to take measures to protect dykes and dams; ensure traffic safety at flooded or landslide areas; fix public buildings, roads, irrigation systems damaged in the disasters; and help local residents repair houses and clean the environment.

The Ministry of Health was assigned to provide free treatment to injured people and instruct people on after-flood cleanup. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for promptly solving any dyke or dam problems and discharging floodwater to protect crops.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade must direct the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to guarantee safety of hydropower reservoirs and promptly resolve power-related problems for production and daily activities to be quickly resumed, the notice said.

He cancelled a scheduled meeting with voters in Hai Phong City on October 12, travelling instead to the northern province of Ninh Binh to check on local dykes. 

Northern mountainous provinces and part of the central region have been submerged by widespread floods resulting from torrential rains on October 10 and 11. 

The death toll climbed to 54 as of 22:00 pm on October 12, according to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. 

The fatalities included 14 people in Thanh Hoa, 17 in Hoa Binh, 9 in Nghe An, 6 in Son La and Yen Bai provinces each. Thirty-nine others are still missing while 31 are injured.