Hanoi (VNA) – DeputyPrime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung asked for improvements to be made nationwide inbuilding plans to respond to incidents and disasters, including search andrescue activities, at a conference in Hanoi on July 20.

A report delivered at the conference revealed that since thebeginning of 2017, authorised forces have saved 5,438 people and 358 vehicles.More than 3.1 million people on over 744,000 vessels operating at sea have beeninformed of dangerous weather situations to seek shelter, while nearly 107,900households were evacuated from dangerous areas.

Deputy PM Dung, who is head of the State Committee forIncidents and Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue, said that the reviewedperiod witnessed complicated developments in weather, climate change,disasters, and incidents, causing serious and fatal damages. Most recently, floodsand landslides triggered by torrential rains in the northern mountainousprovinces during June 23-26 left over 40 dead, missing, or injured, while fourwere swept away by floods in Lang Chanh district, the central province of ThanhHoa, on July 19.

In addition, many fires and explosions have happened, causingserious impacts, including a fire at the apartment complex Carina Plaza in HoChi Minh City which killed 13 people and a blaze at Hai Ha 18 oil tanker in HaiPhong city.

“Those incidents and disasters require us to takeresponsibility for reducing losses and intensifying response measures.Minimising human and asset losses are the core task of the work, contributingto ensuring the continuation of socio-economic development,” Dung stressed.

The leader said that in the remaining months of 2018, theweather and climate situation is likely to be complex with unpredictabledevelopments.

He asked ministries, sectors, and localities to keep a closewatch on rain and flood developments after storm Son Tinh, the third of itskind to hit the East Sea; as well as flood developments in the east, southern,and Mekong Delta regions; and other areas prone to landslides and flashfloods soas to promptly evacuate locals from dangerous areas.

The Deputy PM required the State Committee for Incident, DisasterResponse, and Search and Rescue and the Central Steering Committee on DisasterPrevention and Control to set up inspection delegations to inspect localities’preparations for disaster response, including measures to ensure residents’safety, protect dykes, dams, and reservoirs.

It is necessary to step up communications with and heightenthe responsibility of leaders at all levels for disaster and incident response,including search and rescue missions, and increase the efficiency of forecastingwork and preventive measures to minimise tragic losses.

Localities should take initiative in carrying out plans torespond to strong storms and typhoons, widespread downpours, floods,landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis based on the likelihood of theirgeographic area, he suggested.

He also required localities and authorised forces to payattention to measures on explosion response and intensify inspections to ensuretraffic safety.

Boosting international cooperation is also important, hesaid, stressing the necessity to improve the quality of human resources, applytechnology in responding to incidents and disasters and in search and rescue,and participate in bilateral and multilateral drills. -VNA