Another seven dead, injured by floods in northern region

Floods in Quang Ninh province. (Source: VNA)

The downpour collapsed over 200 houses and 84 irrigational facilities, submerged 2,500 hectares of rice, killed more than 11,500 heads of cattle and damaged 11 kilometres of canals, six reservoirs and a number of roads.

In an urgent Prime Minister’s notice issued on August 2nd, municipal and provincial authorities, ministries and agencies need to implement recovery efforts, including search-and-rescue, food and necessity provisions for victim households, monitoring landslide and flood-prone areas, and deploying medical staff for environmental clean-up and epidemic prevention.

The National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security were asked to direct their units stationed in affected areas to support local residents in the wake of the disaster.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to assist localities with safely operating dams, draining water and protecting agriculture production.

The Ministry of Transport is responsible for ensuring smooth traffic flow on national highways and dealing with possible incidents on major roads.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been asked to come up with a plan to help workers at the Vietnam National Coal – Mineral Industries Group resume work.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, moderate-to-heavy rains will continue from August 2nd-4th.

Floods will also occur in the Red-Thai Binh river system, up to 3-5 metres.

There is a high risk of floods and landslides in the northern mountainous provinces of Quang Ninh, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Hoa Binh.

Low-lying areas in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh and Nam Dinh are vulnerable to inundation./.