In a letter sent to disaster prevention forces, the top leader emphasised the urgent need to improve preparedness and resilience against natural disasters amid increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

According to him, natural disasters in recent years have continued to cause significant damage to human lives, infrastructure, and property, requiring disaster management efforts to shift from passive response toward proactive prevention, early forecasting, and more effective risk governance.

He called on authorities at all levels, relevant agencies, local administrations, and emergency forces to strengthen responsibility, closely monitor real conditions, regularly update response plans, and enhance forecasting and early warning systems.

The leader also stressed the importance of applying science, technology, and digital transformation to disaster management while strengthening Vietnam’s civil defence system in order to minimise losses caused by natural disasters.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam highlighted the need to build safe, proactive, and highly resilient communities capable of responding effectively to disasters, and at the same time to ensure timely rescue and relief operations and maintain social stability under all circumstances.

Disaster management efforts have continuously evolved since President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 70/SL establishing the Central Dyke Protection Committee in 1946. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the management of the State, authorities, armed forces, experts, and citizens nationwide have played a vital role in disaster prevention, emergency response, rescue operations, and post-disaster recovery efforts despite facing dangerous conditions. Their contributions have been widely recognised and appreciated by the Party, the State, and the Vietnamese people.

On the occasion, the leader also extended greetings and appreciation to citizens, soldiers, disaster prevention forces, organisations, and individuals who have continuously contributed to protecting communities and ensuring public safety.

Vietnam is considered one of the countries most heavily affected by natural disasters and climate change. In recent years, extreme weather events including powerful storms, torrential rainfall, flashfloods, landslides, urban flooding, and prolonged droughts have become increasingly unpredictable, causing severe damage to lives, property, and infrastructure.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, 2025 recorded the highest number of storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea since the country began meteorological observations, with a total of 21 storms and tropical depressions forming during the year.

By the end of 2025, natural disasters had left hundreds of people dead or missing, while economic losses were estimated at more than VND100 trillion. The disasters also caused major disruptions to local livelihoods, transportation systems, infrastructure, and production activities across multiple regions of the country.

An unprecedented disaster year demands a more resilient response

VOV.VN - Vietnam in 2025 witnessed one of the most extreme and anomalous years of natural disasters in recent decades, marked by record-breaking intensity, unprecedented damage and a scale of response rarely seen before.