Disaster-related incidents have left 104 people dead or missing, in addition to causing damage worth VND2 trillion (US$79.2 million), in Vietnam since the beginning of 2024, with landslides and floods deemed to be the main culprits.

These figures were mentioned in a directive signed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday.

The Vietnamese government leader, in his directive, asked ministries and local authorities nationwide to proactively adopt prevention and control measures against natural disasters in the upcoming period, as calamities have become increasingly unusual and unpredictable in the year to date. 

Heatwaves, droughts, and saline intrusion plaguing Vietnam over an extended period early this year have been followed by a series of landslides, floods, and excessive rainfall in various parts of the country in recent months, mostly in the northern, north-central, and Central Highlands regions.

Last month, more than 40 residents were reported dead and missing due to rainstorms and landslides.

A fatal landslide took place on a National Highway 34 section in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam, claiming the lives of 11 people and leaving four injured on July 13.

Intense rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides in Son La and Dien Bien Provinces, both located in the country’s northern mountainous region, at the end of July, leaving 20 dead and missing. 

Heavy downpours also caused flooding in urban areas and some residential areas in other northern locales including Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, and Lang Son.

The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting announced that the La Niña weather pattern might impact the country starting this August, which could result in powerful storms, heavy rains, floods, flash floods, landslides, and dam failures, posing significant risks to production, livelihoods, property, and the safety of local residents.

Therefore, PM Chinh demanded that the chairpersons of provincial and municipal administrations to prioritize directing natural disaster prevention and control drives to ensure people's safety and minimize damage to local and state properties.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was assigned to ask weather forecast agencies to promptly evaluate and learn from their recent monitoring, forecasting, and warning efforts, while taking measures to enhance the quality of forecasting and warning of natural disasters.

These agencies have to keep a close watch on weather conditions to timely inform authorities and local residents of the latest developments and response measures.

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