PM urges ramping up efforts in response to flooding

Trung Giã Commune, Sóc Sơn District in Hà Nội was under water on Wednesday as water level on Red River rises. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Wednesday asked ministries, agencies and localities to work around the clock in response to emergencies due to the complex flooding situation in northern cities and provinces following Typhoon Yagi.

Speaking before a meeting of permanent cabinet members on law-building, the PM noted that post-typhoon floods and landslides had left 296 people dead and missing as of 3pm Wednesday, and stressed that people’s health and life must be put first and foremost.

The Government leader ordered the engagement of the entire political system and the employment of all measures to cope with floods and landslides.

He asked the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, agencies, and the localities not affected by Yagi to support those hit by the typhoon and work together to deal with its aftermath.

All agencies must have shifts available around the clock to respond to emergencies on time.

The PM assigned Deputy PMs and some ministers to visit localities and instruct the relief efforts there.

He asked that the authorities focus on search and rescue efforts, looking for the victims and the missing, treating the injured, arranging funerals for the deceased victims and quickly stablise the situation. He stressed that necessities, especially food, fresh water and medicines, must be delivered to communities isolated by flooding.

PM Chính also urged keeping a close watch on the situation at dikes and reservoirs and areas prone to landslides and flash floods and speeding up the evacuation of residents in risky areas to safe grounds.

He suggested loan incentives in support of people and household businesses in restoring production and business and assisting people in stabilising their lives, along with increasing the supply of production materials and controlling the market, especially to prevent price inflation and other market manipulation tactics.

Agencies and localities were requested to assess flood damage, cut administrative procedures and quickly allocate reserves to residents.

PM Chính also requested media agencies to provide updates on the evolving situation of rain and floods, while enhancing information on advisories and skills guidance for the public to prevent, combat, adapt and recover from the aftermath of storms and floods, and to restore life, production, and business activities.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked with developing a programme to address the consequences of typhoon Yagi, as well as rain, floods, landslides, and inundation.

This programme should propose mechanisms and policies to support residents, private enterprises, individual business households, and cooperatives in recovering their production and business activities; mechanisms and policies for affected agencies and localities; and policies for restoring damaged infrastructure caused by storms, floods, and landslides.

In particular, it should establish mechanisms to mobilise maximum resources from the State, the people, businesses, and the entire society to overcome the consequences of the typhoon and rain, floods, landslides, and inundation caused by residual effects. — VNS