PM urges measures to address flood consequences

Hanoi (VNA) - The Prime Minister has urged comprehensive measures to address the flood and storm consequences in the districts of Sa Pa and Bat Xat in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai.

Tropical storm Nida, the second hitting Vietnam in 2016, brought heavy rains that caused floods and landslide in the locality on August 4, killing three, injuring seven others and sweeping away many houses and facilities, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

In dispatch No.1386/CD-TTg, the PM requested Lao Cai authorities to undertake maximum efforts to search for the missing and provide support to the affected residents.

He also highlighted the need for monitoring in the flooded and landslide-hit areas to ensure traffic safety while evacuating residents from high-risk areas.

The National Committee for Search and Rescue, Ministries of National Defence and Public Security are to assist with search and rescue work and coordinate with localities to help local residents overcome the natural disaster.

The Ministry of Health is to provide free treatment services for the injured and instruct local people to clean the environment after the flooding subsides.

Ministries and sectors are to ensure services, such as traffic flow on main roads, electricity, and communication.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung visited affected families in Coc San commune in Bat Xat district and Trung Chai commune in Sa Pa district.

The Deputy PM also urged local authorities to accelerate search and rescue work while stepping up educational campaigns to improve the awareness of the consequences of flash floods among local residents.

According to the provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and search, the total damage caused by the flood exceeds 200 billion VND (9 million USD).

Hundreds of houses have been inundated, while hundreds of cattle and poultry.

The flood also submerged over 10,000 hectares of crops, many roads and dozens of communal and irrigational facilities in the two districts.

According to latest reports, 46 households in Phin Ngan and Quang Kim Communes, Bat Xat district are still being isolated.-VNA