PM calls for stronger disaster preparedness

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, head of the National Civil Defence Steering Committee, on July 24 chaired the committee’s meeting over disaster response, and search and rescue efforts, with priorities outlined for the time ahead.

The hybrid meeting was connected to 34 provinces and cities, reaching 3,321 grassroots-level locations across the country.

At the start of the meeting, PM Chinh extended condolences, on behalf of Party and State leaders, to families affected by recent natural disasters especially the deadly boat capsizing in Ha Long Bay and severe flooding in Nghe An province. He called for stronger communication and faster reporting mechanisms to protect people’s lives and property in emergencies.

The meeting followed the announcement of Decision No. 1585/QD-TTg dated July 23 by the Prime Minister, officially restructuring three separate agencies - the National Civil Defence Steering Committee, the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, and the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue - into a single entity - the National Civil Defence Steering Committee.

PM Chinh stressed that natural disaster prevention and response forms a vital part of national defence, especially for Vietnam, a country vulnerable to natural disasters.

He warned that climate change is making weather patterns more severe, unpredictable, and extreme, citing the examples of Super Typhoon Yagi in 2024, the unseasonal floods in the central region last June, and the recent sudden thunderstorm in Quang Ninh that overturned a tourist boat.

Regarding Typhoon Wipha, the PM acknowledged the proactive efforts of ministries and provinces in forecasting and issuing early warnings. Still, the storm’s direct and lingering effects caused significant damage.

He called on delegates to honestly assess disaster response efforts and identify challenges at both national and local levels.

The PM also asked participants to discuss how the new two-tier local government model, in place since July, has impacted disaster response and coordination. He encouraged the sharing of practical experiences and successful models in this regard./.