Localities in central region told to brace for coming tropical depression

The predicted path of the tropical depression (Source: National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting)

Hanoi (VNA) –The Prime Minister has ordered localities in the central region, ministries,and sectors to take swift actions to address flooding consequences and gear upfor an approaching tropical depression likely to strengthen into storm.

An official dispatchissued by the PM on October 25 noted that incessant rains have occurred incentral provinces over the past days, especially from October 22 to 24 in ThuaThien - Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh provinces, causing floods andlandslides and isolating certain areas.

While some rivers in theregion are still in full spate and several areas remain submerged, a tropicaldepression in the East Sea is moving towards the mainland, likely to intensifyinto a storm, and may continue triggering downpours in the areas from Da Nangcity to Binh Thuan province, as well as the Central Highlands.

To cope with thetropical depression, protect people’s lives, and quickly address floodaftermath, the PM requested the administrations of the localities from QuangTri to Binh Thuan and those in the Central Highlands to promptly makepreparations for the depression, with a focus on ensuring safety for boats andvessels at sea and taking actions to guarantee people’s safety in case ofserious flooding.

Meanwhile, Quang Nam,Quang Ngai, and Thua Thien - Hue provinces were told to swiftly deal with floodaftermath.

The Government leader assignedthe National Committee for Incident and Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue,the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, and theMinistry of Transport to ready forces and equipment for assisting localities inthe work.

The Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment was demanded to keep a close watch on the tropicaldepression, rain, and flooding situation to provide timely information forrelevant agencies and residents.

Other ministries andsectors were told to take measures within their competence to ensure reservoirs’safety, protect agricultural activities and the power system, and supportlocalities in the central region to address flooding consequences in a timelymanner.

The National SteeringCommittee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control was asked to direct the timelyimplementation of appropriate response measures so as to minimise losses,according to the dispatch./.

VNA