Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, Head of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, chairs an emergency meeting with ministries and localities on April 1, 2022 (Photo: VOV)

During an emergency meeting with ministries and localities on Friday, Deputy PM Thanh stressed the need to ensure safe, flexible and efficient operation of dams and inspect residential areas at high risk of flooding, flash floods and landslides to proactively evacuate them.

Mr. Thanh said, "Localities must survey all areas at risk of landslides because there will be rain in the coming days. We have to promptly warn the people at high risk areas and evacuate them in a timely manner."

The central provinces from Thua Thien Hue to Khanh Hoa will have heavy rains from 100-200mm as a result of cold air and the low air pressure. As of 5PM on Friday, heavy rain and floods had killed 2 people, caused one missing, and damaged houses and fishing boats. Floods also caused landslides on some transport routes in Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam province.

A working group of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep arrived in the Central region on Friday to direct the localities to tackle the consequences of natural disasters and respond to unusual weather events in the coming days.