Southern provinces told to brace for severe weather this year
The southern region might be hit by powerful storms at the end of this year, a conference on natural disaster prevention and control heard in Ho Chi Minh City late last week.
Large areas of rice fields in Ca Mau province suffered damages from rising flood water last week. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The southern region might be hit bypowerful storms at the end of this year, a conference on natural disasterprevention and control heard in Ho Chi Minh City late last week.
Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Centre forHydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said this year southern provinces and citieswill be affected by the La Nina phenomenon, in which cooler than normal seas inthe central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean impact global weather patterns.
La Nina has been causing high waves and strong winds in the lastfew weeks, he said.
Hydro-meteorological forecasts indicate that in the second half ofthis year there could be around 12 storms and tropical depressions over theEast Sea, half of which could directly affect Vietnam, he said.
But the storm season would arrive later than normal, he said.
“The storms may be stronger and move in a more complicatedpattern, and there may be an increase in rainstorms between October andmid-December.
“The probability of storms approaching and affecting the southernprovinces is higher than normal.”
The centre also forecast floods at the end of October due tohigher than average rainfall.
According to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Preventionand Control, provinces also need to be ready for strong waves and high tidesand resultant landslides.
With all these threats, provinces need to reinforce their seadykes and other flood prevention infrastructure and other construction works,and closely monitor natural disasters to warn the public in time, it said.
Preparation against natural disasters
Southern provinces and cities have been focusing on reinforcingtheir natural disaster prevention and control capabilities and raising publicunderstanding.
According to Ca Mau province’s Steering Committee for NaturalDisaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue, the province has beenbuilding and repairing its sea dyke, relocating people living in vulnerableareas, and growing mangroves.
The committee has sought upgrades to sea dykes and more fundingand equipment for natural disaster prevention and control and for building twonew oceanography stations for weather forecast.
Soc Trang province worked with UNICEF to organise a week-longevent for students in May to increase their awareness of natural disasters andteach them basic skills and knowledge for staying safe in dangerous weatherthrough educational activities and contests./.
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A seminar spotlighting the role of the press in natural disaster prevention and control took place in Hanoi on June 19 on the occasion of the 97th anniversary of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day (June 21).
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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.
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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.
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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.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
In 2005, Nghe An had 570 captive bears, the largest number in Vietnam. Thanks to efforts by local authorities, forest rangers, and rescue forces, the number has fallen to just 15.
Large areas of rice fields in Ca Mau province suffered damages from rising flood water last week. (Photo: VNA) 
