Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued an official dispatch, urging ministries, agencies, and local authorities to take immediate and effective action to address the severe flooding, stabilise local lives, and resume production and business activities in the central region.
Official Dispatch No. 204/CD-TTg was sent to secretaries of the Party committees and chairpersons of the People's Committees of Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Tri, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An, as well as to ministers and heads of government agencies.
For more than one week, prolonged heavy rains have triggered widespread flooding across the central region, with rainfall exceeding 1,500mm in many areas. In particular, Bach Ma (Hue city) recorded a record-breaking 5,019mm, including 1,740mm on October 27 – the highest daily rainfall ever recorded in Vietnam. High tides and floods on the Bo River in Hue and the Thu Bon River in Da Nang surpassed records, while many other rivers rose above Alarm Level 3, inundating vast areas, especially in Hue and Da Nang, according to the dispatch.
As of the evening of October 30, floods had left 22 people dead or missing, submerged more than 120,000 houses, severely damaged infrastructure, and disrupted daily and economic activities across multiple localities, preliminary statistics show.
The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned that heavy rains are likely to persist, particularly in Quang Tri, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An, with local rainfall possibly exceeding 700mm between October 30 and November 4 due to cold air and easterly wind disturbances.
To ensure effective response and quick recovery, the Prime Minister instructed provincial leaders to continue search and rescue operations, provide free medical treatment for the injured, and deliver food, water, medicines, and essential supplies to isolated communities. Localities must report results by November 2.
He ordered the urgent repair of eroded roads to enable the delivery of relief supplies, as well as the cleaning and restoration of schools to resume classes promptly after the floods. Efforts should also focus on restoring agricultural production, repairing essential infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, electricity, and telecommunications, and preventing post-flood disease outbreaks.
Local authorities were demanded to assess losses accurately while proactively mobilising local and central resources along with other legal funding sources for addressing flood consequences, and submit reports to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance by November 5 for additional support if needed.
The Government leader also instructed the north-central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh to strictly follow previous directives under Dispatch No. 203/CD-TTg, dated October 27, and Government Office Notice No. 587/TB-VPCP, dated October 29, monitor weather conditions closely, stay on full alert, issue timely warnings on flash flood and landslide risks, and relocate residents from dangerous zones.
The Ministries of National Defence and Public Security are to deploy forces and equipment, including helicopters, to deliver relief and assist in recovery efforts. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment must assess agricultural losses and take meaures for resuming farming as soon as floodwaters recede. The Ministry of Industry and Trade must restore power supply as soon as possible, ensure adequate goods circulation, and prevent hoarding or price manipulation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Training is to quickly clean and repair schools, and ensure learning materials for affected students. The Ministry of Health must ensure medical supplies, guide communities on sanitation, and prevent disease outbreaks. The Ministry of Construction must prioritise repairing key transport routes, while the Ministry of Information and Communications was tasked with restoring telecommunications networks.
The Ministry of Finance will apply tax and fee relief measures for affected individuals, organisations, and enterprises, expedite insurance compensation, and promptly distribute rice and food aid. The State Bank of Vietnam will direct credit institutions to restructure debts and offer concessional loans to help people and enterprsies recover production and business operations.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has been assigned to directly oversee the recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Ministers Mai Van Chinh and Ho Quoc Dung will inspect severely affected and isolated areas to guide responses.
The Government Office will monitor the implementation of the dispatch and report promptly to the Prime Minister and the relevant Deputy Prime Ministers on any issues emerging./.
