Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A conference was held in Hanoi onOctober 11 to discuss cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in seeking measuresand technology to mitigate damage from flash flood and landslides.
Doan Thi Tuyet Nga, head of the Department ofScience-Technology and International Cooperation under the Vietnam Disaster ManagementAuthority said that Japan, owning advanced technology in disaster preventionand response, has supported Vietnam in managing risks of natural disasters,especially floods and landslides.
The administration has worked with experts from the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency (JICA) to translate documents to serve thebuilding of plans on flash flood prevention and control, she noted.
However, Nga stressed the need of stronger engagement ofauthorised agencies and scientists as well as support from developed countrieslike Japan.
Vu Le Minh, an expert from the Department ofScience-Technology and International Cooperation, noted that Vietnam is one ofthe countries hardest hit by natural disasters, including flash flood andlandslides.
He noted that as flash flood and landslides often occur intough terrain, the search and rescue work is difficult.
In August this year, only 15-minute flash flood caused 10deaths and missing, destroyed 35 houses with total losses of 120 billion VND,he said.
Naoki Imamura from the Waterand Disaster Management Bureau under Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,Transport and Tourism shared a number of measures that Japan has applied toprevent and respond to natural disasters, including the building of dams.
Participants at the eventdiscussed the need to enhance the efficiency of early warning systems, improvepublic awareness of preventing and responding to flash flood and landslides,apply science and technology in communications, equip localities with warningequipment, and call for involvement of the private sector.
They also proposed that theGovernment allow the launching of a project to pilot a early warning system andthe construction of dams to prevent mud and rocks in a number of risky areas./.
VNA
