According to projections recently released by the Mid-Central Region Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, this year’s rainy season is highly likely to begin early and end later than previous years. In particular, up to 13 storms operating in the East Sea, of which six could hit the mainland of Viet Nam, with up to four affecting Da Nang's weather conditions.

On Tuesday, Mr. Ho Ky Minh, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman cum Deputy Head of the municipal Steering Committee of Natural Disaster Mitigation, Search and Rescue and Civil Defence presided over an online meeting with representatives from competent agencies to discuss natural disaster preparedness and response tasks, and search and rescue missions set for this year.

Vice Chairman Minh required functional local bodies to enhance preparedness and response to natural disaster situations, and implement search and rescue tasks in a prompt yet effective manner.

Focus should be on giving support to people, especially those residing in locations which are at risk of inundation and floods.

The city-based armed forces must conduct practice sessions on natural disaster response.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assume the prime responsibility for coordinating with other relevant agencies to make updates on forecasting and warnings against natural disasters released by hydro-meteorological agencies.

Also on Tuesday, 24 units and 25 individuals received certificates of merit from the municipal People's Committee for their outstanding engagement in natural disaster mitigation, search and rescue tasks.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP- Translating by A.T