The Ministry of Industry and Trade held a conference in Da Nang on Friday to review the industry's natural disaster prevention, and search and rescue work, in 2023 and deploy new tasks for 2024.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan speaking at the conference. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan highly appreciated the proactive, timely, close and synchronous work of the industry and trade sectors all levels and units in responding to natural disasters in 2023.

He said happily that there was no casualty. Damage to property and structures of businesses was minimized. Production and business activities were kept stable.

Deploying natural disaster prevention and control and search and rescue in 2024, Deputy Minister Tan reminded all levels and units in the industry not to be subjective or negligent but to be more proactive and ready in response to natural disasters, especially floods and droughts under the impact of climate change.

He also stressed the need to apply more scientific and technological achievements and digital transformation to the industry's natural disaster prevention and search and rescue work, especially the application of technology in forecasting and warning rain, flood and reservoir operation.

Besides, importance should be attached to strengthening international cooperation, inspection and training; as well as strictly following the instructions and administration of superiors on natural disaster prevention and control and search and rescue.

Vice Chairman of Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong at the conference. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong informed that in recent times, Da Nang has been one of the localities heavily affected by climate change, often having to endure many types of natural disasters, especially storms, floods, saltwater intrusion and urban flooding, causing damage and affecting people's lives and production activities.

The work of natural disaster prevention is always of top concern to the city. Every year, the municipal Department of Industry and Trade has developed a plan to supply essential goods to people when natural disasters occur, and coordinate with the Da Nang Electricity Company Limited to develop a plan to ensure electrical safety.

Besides the outstanding results achieved, natural disaster prevention and control work still had many limitations, and under the impact of climate change, natural disasters were increasingly powerful and dangerous, he added.

He, therefore, took the opportunity to ask the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct the Viet Nam Electricity Group, the National Load Dispatch Centre and hydroelectric reservoir management and operation units to have plan to mobilise electricity supply sources.

At the same time, he suggested that the focus should be on developing plans to mobilise and operate hydroelectric plants in accordance with the current status and forecast of water sources as well as regulations of inter-reservoir operation procedures in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin in order to ensure balance and harmony between energy security, and stable and safe water supply for daily life and production for the city.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translating by M.DUNG