Prompt actions needed to overcome storm consequences

Hanoi (VNA) - The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has asked steering boards for disaster prevention, and search and rescue in northern cities and provinces affected by storm Son Tinh to promptly mobilise forces and facilities to deal with the aftermath.

The steering boards were requested to keep a close watch on post-storm torrential rains and update the situation to all-level authorities and people, helping them brace for flooding, flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.

Cities and provinces from Quang Ninh in the north to Ha Tinh in the central region, were asked to continue pumping water out in order to limit losses to newly-cultivated rice areas, as well as setting out recovery plans.

It is necessary to ensure the safety of reservoirs, especially some key ones that are already full of water.

The Electricity of Vietnam was asked to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for pumping stations.

Initial reports by localities showed that as of 11:30am on July 20, torrential rains and floods killed five people, including three in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai and two in the central province of Thanh Hoa; leaving 13 missing in the two localities; and eight others in Nghe An and Yen Bai injured.

Son Tinh, the third tropical storm to enter Vietnam from the East Sea this year, destroyed 21 houses, flooded 827 others in northern and central localities, and forced 365 households to evacuate.

It also swept away and killed 3,964 heads of poultry and livestock, and affected 2,868ha of aquatic area.

According to the Directorate of Water Resources under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of 5pm on July 19, 69,890ha of rice and 12,570ha of crops had been flooded.

Heavy downpours are forecast to last over the next few days. -VNA