Central localities urged to proactively tackle natural disasters
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has asked localities in the central coastal and Central Highlands regions to be more proactive in preventing natural disasters to minimize losses.
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has asked localitiesin the central coastal and Central Highlands regions to be more proactive inpreventing natural disasters to minimize losses.
Dung,who also heads the National Committee for Search and Rescue, made the requestat an online conference with 10 coastal provinces and cities in the central,and Central Highlands regions, in Hanoi on December 2.
Heordered central cities and provinces from Nghe An to Binh Thuan to promptlysupport families having casualties in floods and continuously search for themissing.
TheMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was told to evaluate theimpacts of the recent floods on hydropower reservoirs and irrigation systems,while the Ministry of Industry and Trade enhanced inspection and management offlood discharge from reservoirs.
TheDeputy PM urged the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) todevelop the monitoring, forecasting and warning systems, and install equipmentat hydro meteorological stations, especially in flood and landslide-proneareas.
Inthe long run, it is necessary to continue carrying out projects oncommunity-based natural disaster management and forest protection, he said.
Heasked the Ministry of Construction to work with the MoNRE and the Ministry ofTransport to devise proper relocation plans for flood-prone areas.
Hesuggested building more rain gauge and rescue stations in the central region,particularly the north-central part, along with upgrading drainage and dykesystems, and preventing soil erosion and flashfloods in mountainous areas.
Accordingto Tran Quang Hoai, Deputy Director General of the MARD’s Department of WaterResources, 65 people were dead and unaccounted for during the recent floods.Meanwhile, more than 22,000 hectares of rice were damaged. The total economicloss was estimated at over 7 trillion VND (308 million USD).
Ministriesand localities promptly supported people by providing over 4,400 tonnes of riceas well as medicine to hardest-hit provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh,and Quang Binh.
Theyalso proposed the Government support 305 billion VND (13.42 million USD) for 14 provinces hardhit by the recent floods./.
Building financial solutions to natural disaster risks is a must in order to lessen the burden on the State budget, said Vice Minister of Finance Nguyen Huu Chi.
Heavy rains and consequent flash floods have inflicted damages in central south provinces, according to reports from provincial steering committees for natural disaster prevention and rescue.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Supporting flood victims (Photo: VNA) 
