Viet Nam must get ready to cope with
climate change, which was forecast to bring erratic and extreme weather this
year, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said at a meeting to review storm
and flood prevention and control in Ha Noi yesterday, March 31.

Hai said
more storms and floods were expected this year which required all ministries,
agencies and localities to consolidate their respective storm and flood
prevention and control committees to quickly implement the national strategy for
natural disaster prevention and mitigation by 2020.

He urged
ministries and agencies to conduct quality examinations of rescue equipment and
make replacements if needed, and promote communication in all localities.

Relevant
authorities were asked to examine their preparations for natural disaster
prevention at all levels and co-operate with the National Centre for
Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting to facilitate timely warnings.

The
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and
Trade would be in charge of evaluating and repairing dykes and reservoirs to
minimise flooding.

Hai also
requested the Military Telecom Corporation to complete documentation on
earthquakes and tsunamis for submission to the Government in June. The Ministry
of Construction has been urged to inspect earthquake-proof designs of
construction projects.

Director
of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Pham Minh Tang said
six or more storms and low tropical pressures were forecasted to strike during
the rainy season and peak water levels were expected to be higher between July
and October than they were during the same period last year.

Locality
representatives suggested that the forecasting of strong storms and floods
should be quicker and more accurate, upgrades should be ordered for dyke and
storm shelter constructions, and rescue efforts should be improved.

Figures
from the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control
showed that unexpected weather had caused serious losses last year. Natural
disasters killed 273 people; 96 are still listed as missing and 491 were
injured. More than 6,000 houses collapsed and more than 300,000ha of crops were
inundated. Total losses were estimated to reach more than VND16 ‘trillion
(US$768 million).

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News