The Prime Minister has asked the nation to be on full alert for the coming flood and storm season and prepare search and rescue measures to minimise human and property damages.

In Directive 808/CT-TTg issued on June 7, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested all ministries and local authorities nation-wide to strengthen their work teams in charge of flood and storm prevention as well as search and rescue.

They should also integrate their natural disaster, climate change and tidal surge prevention tasks into their regular socio-economic development programmes, he added.

Dung also asked provinces and cities to evacuate households that are located in dangerous areas to safer ground and to complete dike system upgrade prior to the onset of
the rainy season.

Coastal provinces and cities have been specifically asked to strengthen their sea dikes and mountainous areas have been asked to be fully prepared for flash floods and landslides.

Dung also asked Hanoi to set up a detailed plan for flood and storm prevention, and dike protection to ensure that any unfavourable weather conditions would not affect the Thang Long – Hanoi 's 1,000th anniversary celebrations./.