Focus on preventing and mitigating damage caused by landslides and flash floods

BTO-That is the content of Official Dispatch No. 732/CD-TTg dated August 8, 2023 of the Prime Minister to provinces and centrally-run cities, including Binh Thuan and a number of relevant ministries, departments and branches.

Since the beginning of July 2023, landslides, flash floods, riverbank and coastal erosion have continued to cause serious damage to lives, houses, properties, many traffic routes and infrastructure have been damaged, causing insecurity among the people. The Prime Minister requested Ministers, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and Heads of relevant agencies to grasp the situation, proactively deploy necessary measures within their authority, ensuring timely, effective and appropriate measures to control and reduce damage caused by landslides, flash floods, riverbank and coastal erosion.

*Landslides caused by floods in Binh Thuan in late July 2023.*

In particular, in the immediate future, provinces and cities must urgently implement a number of urgent solutions to ensure the safety of people in areas at high risk of landslides and flash floods. Specifically, for areas where landslides and flash floods have been detected, it is necessary to resolutely evacuate people and property from dangerous areas or have proactive plans to ensure safety of life, limit property damage for people, and avoid passive and unexpected situations. Organize support for food, necessities, and accommodation according to regulations to stabilize the lives of households that have lost their homes due to landslides and flash floods or have to relocate to prevent and avoid landslides and flash floods, and prevent people from going hungry or having no place to live. Continue to organize thorough inspections and promptly detect areas at risk of landslides and flash floods, especially residential areas, schools, offices, barracks, factories, enterprises, etc. Direct the strengthening of propaganda and guidance for people to recognize the signs and risks of landslides and flash floods to mobilize people's strength in detecting and reporting areas at risk of landslides and flash floods, etc.

In the long term, it is necessary to strictly control construction planning and construction activities, especially the construction of houses and works in steep terrain areas, along rivers, streams, canals, coastal areas, and areas at risk of geological disasters. Strictly prohibit and strictly handle deforestation, especially protective forests and special-use forests. Organize inspections, checks, and strictly and thoroughly handle violations of regulations on land use management. Thereby, aiming to reduce the risk of natural disasters, limit landslides, flash floods, inundation, etc.

It is known that in Binh Thuan, currently the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue together with related units and localities are conducting inspections of damage after floods in affected localities including Tanh Linh, Duc Linh, Ham Thuan Bac districts...

K. HANG

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