In the light of the complicated developments of COVID-19 pandemic and the forthcoming rainy and stormy season, Da Nang has been making natural disaster response plans in an effort to ensure the safety of local residents.

The functional forces asked fishermen from outside Da Nang to stay on their fishing boats anchored at the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf when seeking safe shelter from the storm in order to ensure the prevention and control of COVID-19. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Creating favourable conditions for out-of-city fishermen to avoid storms

Thanks to its favourable location, the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and Port is considered as an ideal storm shelter for thousands of fishing vessels from other localities when storms or tropical depressions are formed in the East Sea.

In an effort to ensure the ultimate safety of fishing boats and fishermen amid natural disasters, the city authorities granted authorization for numerous fishing boats, with hundreds of fishermen onboard,  from the city and other central coastal localities to seek safe shelter from storm No 5 (September 11 and 12) and storm No 6 (September 23). The city’s functional bodies conducted rapid antigen tests for these fishermen and required them to undergo compulsory medical isolation as well in an effort to gain the control of the pandemic.

Mr Huynh Van Phuong, Head of the Management Board of the Tho Quang Fishing Wharf and Port, remarked that rapid antigen testing was mandatory for all fishermen from Da Nang and other central coastline localities who entered the wharf to avoid storms. In addition, out-of-city fishermen were put under mandatory medical isolation right at their boats, whilst local fishermen were isolated at designated areas in the city.

Ensuring safety of residents is top priority

Under its evacuation plan to cope with storms with strong winds from levels 8-11, directly affecting Da Nang, a total of 18,733 people are expected to be evacuated to assigned facilities and other 39,950 to neighborings' houses.  The number of to-be-evacuated people will increase to 42,235 at assigned facilities, and 66,221 at neighbourings' houses if the city braces for storms with strong winds from level 12 upwards

However, in light of the complicated COVID-19 resurgence, the total number of evacuees will remain unchanged. In addition, the city will actively increase the number of on-site evacuees and decrease the number of evacuees at concentrated facilities in tandem with strictly following the city’s pandemic prevention and control measures.

Mr Hoang Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stressed the need for district-level authorities to prefect their own natural response plans in tandem with control and respond to Covid-19 in the new situation.

In particular, emphasis will be on rechecking the planned evacuation sites, arranging an appropriate number of supporters, and ensuring the ultimate safety of evacuates.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translated by M.DUNG