Addressing a national conference on Monday on disaster prevention, search and rescue in 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, the Head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control emphasised that the task of natural disaster adaptation and mitigation in 2022 and the following years will be very complicated and unpredictable. It is, therefore, necessary for the whole political system from the central to grassroots levels, armed forces and each citizen to uphold the sense of responsibility and huge amount efforts.

Illustrative image (Photo: DNO)

The unusually heavy rains in the middle of the dry season, accompanied by thunderstorms and rough seas from March 30 to April 2 in the provinces from Quang Binh to Khanh Hoa was a record not seen in 60 years.

Also, extreme cold weather was reported in late February in the northern mountainous areas whilst earthquakes increasing in both intensity and frequency unexpectedly happened in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

Since the start of this year, the total damage caused by natural disasters has reached an estimated VND2.4 trillion ($105 million), nearly half of the economic damage caused by natural disasters in 2021.

According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, about 10 - 12 typhoons and tropical depressions are predicted to hit the East Sea this year, of which 4 - 6 are forecast to directly affect the mainland.

The total rainfall this year tends to increase nationwide, with a high probability of extreme rain.
Still worse, flash floods and landslides are highly likely to hit mountainous areas and upstream of small rivers and streams, whilst dangerous weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, whirlwinds and hail are predicted to affect the country this year.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Phuoc Son thoroughly introduced the contents of Directive No. 04/CT-UBND dated April 19, 2022 of the municipal government on natural disaster adaptation and search and rescue in 2022. He asked functional local agencies to proactively respond and minimise damage caused by natural disasters.

The Da Nang Department of Construction shall pay attention to direct the appropriate pruning of trees, ensuring shade and beauty for streets and public places in the dry season and serving tourism, in tandem with  reviewing urban inundation prevention and control to act against flooding when unusually heavy rains occur.

Heed must be paid to strengthening fire prevention and fighting schemes in residential areas and forests throughout the city during the dry season.

A total of 108 people were killed due to natural disasters in Viet Nam last year, and caused economic losses of up to VND5.2 trillion (US$226 million). The number of deaths due to natural disasters in 2021 decreased 70% compared to 2020 and the economic losses fell 87%.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from April 25 to 27, the hot weather is occurring on a large scale in the Northwest region, North Central Coast and mid-central region with the highest temperature of 35 - 37 degrees Celsius, and above 37 degrees Celsius in some places.

In particular, the mountainous areas in the North and Mid-central regions are suffering from intense heat with the highs of 37 - 39 degrees Celsius, and over 39 degrees Celsius in some places.

The lowest average daily humidity is 45 - 60%.

The time with the temperature above 35 degrees Celsius is from 12:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m.

During the upcoming  holidays from April 30 to May 2, the Northern Viet Nam and north-central coast will witness showers and thunderstorms while the northern mountainous areas will see heavy rain.

From April 29 to May 3, the central, south-central, Central Highlands and southern provinces are predicted to brace for showers and thunderstorms

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by A.THU