Nearly 1 billion disaster warnings sent to citizens via Zalo

Trusted information channel for disaster response

On October 14, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) signed a cooperation agreement with the Zalo Platform for the 2026-2028 period.

The Zalo page “Disaster Prevention Information” was established in October 2020. After nearly 5 years of operation, the page has attracted nearly 605,000 followers, becoming one of the most official, timely, and reliable information channels on disasters in Vietnam. Each year, an average of more than 165 million urgent Zalo messages are sent to people in areas at risk of being affected by disasters.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority, said: In the context where natural disasters in Vietnam continue to be severe and extreme, the country has faced many major disasters causing heavy losses in lives and property. Zalo has truly become a reliable, accessible, and effective communication channel, helping connect state management agencies with the people in critical moments, contributing to the protection of lives, property, and community livelihoods.

"The second cooperation agreement, effective until the end of 2028, will be a new development step in the relationship between the Department and Zalo. Through this event, I hope the two sides will continue close coordination, not only inheriting and maintaining existing activities but also researching and developing new utilities to improve the effectiveness of information transmission, disaster warning, and service for the whole society," he shared.

Ms. Le Thi Kim Xuyen, Director of Public Services and Digital Transformation, affirmed Zalo’s commitment in the process of digital transformation in Vietnam in general and disaster prevention in particular. "We believe that digital transformation in disaster prevention is not only about applying new tools but also creating a flexible and human-centered connection mechanism between the State and the people. That is also Zalo’s mission: to become a trusted bridge helping government agencies deliver information to citizens quickly and promptly in critical moments," Ms. Xuyen said.

On this occasion, the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, presented a Letter of Appreciation to the Zalo Platform. The letter acknowledged Zalo’s persistent companionship, high sense of responsibility, and professionalism in joining hands with the community to build a safer Vietnam against natural disasters.

Emergency rescue requests via Zalo SOS

The Zalo page "Disaster Prevention Information" has become an important bridge between the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority and people nationwide through nearly 1 billion messages transmitting timely forecasts, warnings, and response guidance sent directly to people’s phones in disaster-affected areas since the first cooperation agreement in 2023.

Recently, Zalo has implemented the Zalo SOS feature, helping people update their status and connect for emergency rescue during storms and floods.

In 2024, when Typhoon Yagi made landfall, through the Zalo SOS feature, 1 million people updated their safe status, 38,000 people reported dangerous situations, 151,000 requested rescue connections, and 87,000 contacted emergency hotlines. In 2025, when Typhoon Bualoi affected many provinces, the Zalo SOS feature recorded very large numbers, reflecting the urgent need for assistance from people during disasters.

About 70,000 people in the central and northern provinces shared their status as in difficulty on Zalo, while more than 395,000 confirmed their safety.

The Zalo representative affirmed the mission that Zalo has always pursued: to serve as a trusted bridge, helping government agencies deliver information to citizens quickly and promptly in critical moments. The signing of this cooperation marks a new milestone, not only building on the achievements of the past 5 years but also opening a new phase of comprehensive and deeper collaboration.

Zalo also connects these emergency requests directly with the National Emergency Hotline 112, which operates 24/7 to handle reports of disasters, accidents, and urgent rescue needs. Around 33,000 calls were made to Hotline 112 through Zalo SOS.