PM directs immediate implementation of measures to overcome storm and flood consequences

Previously, on October 8, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers visited affected localities to grasp the situation, disaster response and recovery work, and search and rescue activities.

Nearly VND 34,000 billion in damages caused by disasters

At the meeting, delegates listened to reports, focused discussions, assessed the situation, and issued directives to implement urgent measures to overcome the consequences of disasters, restore production and business activities, and stabilize people’s lives.

According to a report by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep, as of October 9, disasters nationwide have caused 238 deaths or missing persons, 367 injuries, damage and roof losses to 258,000 houses, and flooding of more than 500,000 hectares of rice, crops, and other plants. The total estimated damage so far is VND 33,549 billion.

In particular, Storm No. 11 is one of the most severe disaster events, with overlapping floods across many localities. It features particularly dangerous phenomena such as large floods, exceptionally large floods, historic-level floods, inundation, flash floods, and landslides. This storm caused serious damage to human life, property, dike systems, reservoirs, and essential infrastructure.

Regarding transportation, 66 national highway sections were congested due to landslides or flooding, while many provincial roads and rural routes were deeply inundated, cut off, and congested. 546,000 electricity customers in Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Cao Bang, and Lang Son provinces lost power, of which 329,000 customers have been restored, while about 217,000 are still in the process of power restoration. 

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep stated that there have been 23 dike incidents in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, and Hanoi along the Cau and Thuong rivers. However, thanks to thousands of personnel, particularly from the military and police forces, being on duty and implementing protective measures, no main dike has so far been breached despite historic rainfall and floods. "We are holding the situation, and as water levels begin to recede, the main dikes will remain secure, although levees and back dikes have all overflowed," said the Deputy Minister.

The Ministry of National Defense has mobilized more than 11,000 officers and soldiers and 256 vehicles of various types and organized four flights transporting 8.7 tons of relief goods. The Ministry of Public Security deployed 11,500 officers and soldiers, including an additional 591 mobile police officers, to the provinces. Other ministries and branches have issued official telegrams and organized direct field delegations for disaster prevention and control.

Standing member of the Party Secretariat Tran Cam Tu highly valued the Government, ministries, local governments, agencies, and units for their proactive, active, timely, and effective actions in responding to and addressing the aftermath of disasters. Disasters have caused extremely severe consequences across many Northern localities, directly affecting this year's economic growth.

Comrade Tran Cam Tu urged relevant agencies to urgently and promptly compile reports for submission to the Politburo and the Party Secretariat, with particular attention to visiting and providing timely relief to affected people and supporting damaged localities in restoring healthcare facilities and schools to ensure uninterrupted education, medical services, and epidemic prevention. The Viet Nam Fatherland Front was requested to continue mobilizing donations and support for affected communities and to ensure timely allocation of support funds to help people and localities overcome the challenges caused by storms and floods.

Comrade Tran Cam Tu also emphasized that, alongside effective post-storm recovery following Storm No. 11, it is essential to implement disaster forecasting and response well while studying long-term and fundamental solutions for disaster prevention and control.

Under no circumstances should people be left hungry, without clothing or shelter

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested agencies acquire directives of Comrade Tran Cam Tu and other opinions presented to report and propose matters to the competent authorities, and to soon submit the meeting's conclusions and the Government's resolution for issuance. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need to maintain a firm grasp of the situation in order to formulate appropriate, timely, and effective policies, solutions, and decisions. He underscored that determination must be high, efforts must be great, and actions must be resolute, with a clear focus on priorities. Tasks must be carried out decisively, with clearly defined personnel, responsibilities, authority, timelines, and deliverables.

Accordingly, efforts must focus on swiftly overcoming the consequences of disasters; stabilizing people’s lives; ensuring minimum conditions for affected residents; ensuring stability, security, and social order; and quickly restoring production, business activities, and people's livelihoods. These measures aim to promote growth, stabilize and develop the economy and society, and improve the material and spiritual lives of people in disaster-affected areas, while fulfilling key tasks and solutions through the end of 2025 and preparing well for the 14th National Party Congress.

The Prime Minister noted that in recent times, disasters have evolved in an extremely complex manner, with historic-level floods causing severe losses of life and property and negatively affecting economic growth. While disasters in 2024 were estimated to cause a GDP loss of around 0.4%, the 2025 figure is projected to reach at least 2%.

Leadership, direction, and governance have been carried out consistently and decisively, with the General Secretary paying special attention. Leaders of the Party, the State, the Government, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, and heads of ministries and branches have provided close and direct guidance. Forward command centers were established to directly oversee and mobilize on-site forces. Under the leadership of the Party, along with the efforts of the entire political system and the engagement of ministries, agencies, forces, localities, and the people, the nation has done its utmost within its capacity.

Given forecasts that the situation remains complicated, with flooding likely to persist and cause further damage, and the possibility of additional storms forming, the Prime Minister requested that disaster forecasting be more precise, thorough, and better coordinated with other countries. This effort is essential to ensure timely, effective, and well-targeted disaster prevention and control.

The Prime Minister further emphasized that leadership, direction, and command must continue to closely follow the guidance of the General Secretary, the Standing Secretariat, and leaders of the Party, the State, and the Government, ensuring flexible, prompt, and effective action.

Regarding several urgent tasks ahead, the Prime Minister requested the Government Office, in coordination with the Office of the Party Central Committee, to consolidate and comprehensively assess the situation, disaster prevention and recovery work, and propose subsequent actions. Relevant agencies were instructed to continue compiling and reviewing the damage to ensure accurate data for executive direction.

Providing directions on key tasks and solutions, the Prime Minister called for visits, encouragement, and support to families of those who died or went missing; proper funeral arrangements for the deceased in accordance with local customs; and continued mobilization of forces to search for the missing, thereby helping to ease the pain and loss of the people and victims' families.

He further directed a review and mobilization of forces and means, including aviation, to reach isolated areas at all costs to deliver essential supplies. The Prime Minister emphasized that all relief delivery operations must ensure the highest levels of safety, hygiene, and effectiveness, and under no circumstances should people be left hungry, without clothing, or exposed to cold and hardship. The Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, and local governments were tasked with providing clothing, blankets, food, drinking water, disinfectants, and medicines for immediate use in isolated and deprived areas.

The Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and localities were instructed to deploy forces ready to assist in reinforcing critical and vulnerable dikes. The military, police, and socio-political organizations were also directed to help residents clean up homes, offices, roads, and the environment; carry out disinfection; and promptly release goods from national reserves to ensure swift and effective implementation.

The Prime Minister demanded urgent support for people to repair damaged houses and rebuild collapsed ones, while ensuring temporary shelter for affected households, absolutely preventing any situation where people are left homeless.

The Ministry of Finance was assigned to direct functional agencies to coordinate with relevant agencies and units to settle insurance payments; while banks and credit institutions were to implement financial support policies to help restore production, business, and livelihoods for affected residents.

The Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, and local governments were tasked with restoring educational and healthcare facilities, using contingency resources for urgent situations, while preventing corruption and negative issues. There must be no shortage of hospitals for patients or schools and classrooms for children.

At the same time, efforts must be accelerated to repair damages and restore essential infrastructure such as electricity, water, telecommunications, transportation, and irrigation systems. Maximum support should be provided to address losses in production and business activities, particularly in agriculture, to stabilize people's lives and contribute to economic growth. Localities were requested to continue compiling and reporting damage statistics so that the Central Government can promptly provide additional support to affected areas, while the Viet Nam Fatherland Front is to urgently allocate the donated funds.

The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Finance to chair and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and other relevant ministries and branches to urgently submit to the Government a draft resolution. This resolution aims to both address the immediate aftermath of disasters and implement fundamental, long-term tasks and solutions based on calculations of timelines, resources, and efficiency. At the same time, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to strengthen inspection and develop tools and indicators to measure and monitor implementation.

Regarding long-term tasks, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Construction to provide guidance on adjusting plans related to dikes, transportation, electricity, water, and irrigation, while localities should proactively implement projects to restore damaged infrastructure. In addition, it is necessary to review equipment, vehicles, and warehouses serving disaster prevention and response; enhance surveys, assessments, development, and implementation of projects and schemes to invest in, upgrade, and complete essential infrastructure.

The Prime Minister also noted that ministries, branches, and localities must promptly commend and honor exemplary individuals and collectives for their dedication and sacrifice, while criticizing and holding accountable those who fail to fulfill their duties, respond inadequately, or show indifference to the losses and suffering of the people.