Responding to and overcoming disasters, incidents, natural disasters, and epidemics

As we know, the situation of natural disasters and unusual incidents that have occurred in the province recently has been irregular, very complicated and increasingly extreme due to the impact of climate change, causing a lot of damage, affecting production and people's lives.

The work of preventing, responding to and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters has been implemented by all levels, sectors and localities with important results. However, the current situation of storms and rains is still unusual, some coastal sections and traffic routes have been eroded, some areas are at risk of flooding during heavy rains... requiring a plan to handle and respond.

Storm shelter for fishing boats on Phu Quy Island. Photo: D.Hoa

Natural disasters and droughts occur frequently.

Binh Thuan province is directly affected by complex weather changes along with the abnormalities of other types of natural disasters such as: drought, rising temperatures, changes in rainfall, tornadoes, hail, floods. In addition, it is also affected by sea waves and changes in river flows, causing serious erosion of the coast and river banks, directly affecting people's lives and causing damage to people and property of the State and people. Natural disasters include: tropical depressions, storms, tornadoes, lightning, hail, heavy rain, landslides, subsidence due to floods, heat, drought, saltwater intrusion, floods, water levels, flash floods... Last year's storm season in the province saw heavy rains with tornadoes and lightning strikes in Duc Linh and Tanh Linh districts, killing people, blowing off roofs, and disrupting agricultural production. In addition, heavy rain also caused landslides in Hong Phong and Hoa Thang communes, Bac Binh district, causing traffic congestion on Highway 716. Heavy rain also caused flooding in many agricultural production areas in Bac Binh and Ham Thuan Bac districts. Landslides caused traffic congestion on National Highway 28B Luong Son - Dai Ninh. In addition, heavy rain also occurred in Tanh Linh district, flooding 50 houses in Bac Ruong commune, blowing off the roofs of 4 auxiliary works, flooding more than 370 hectares of agricultural production, landslides damaged many infrastructure works. According to statistics, in 2022, the whole province had 4 deaths due to natural disasters, more than 200 houses were flooded, collapsed, had their roofs blown off, damaged, nearly 4,500 hectares of agricultural area were damaged... The total damage in the whole province was over 33.48 billion VND. At the beginning of this year's stormy season, due to the impact of a natural disaster, lightning killed one person in Ham Thuan Bac district, and five houses had their roofs blown off or were damaged by rain accompanied by thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Proactive response

In recent times, the authorities at all levels in the province have closely monitored the situation, focused on directing resolutely and responsibly, and deployed civil defense measures, responded to and promptly overcome disasters, incidents, natural disasters, and epidemics. The functional forces, especially the military, police, and specialized and part-time rescue and relief forces, have coordinated to promptly and effectively deploy the work of responding to and overcoming incidents, natural disasters, epidemics, and search and rescue. Hundreds of officers, soldiers, and vehicles have been mobilized to participate in responding to incidents, natural disasters, epidemics, and search and rescue. Thereby, it has contributed to minimizing damage, especially human damage, preventing people from hunger, thirst, and disease outbreaks, while quickly restoring production and stabilizing life after natural disasters and epidemics. In localities, people have been mobilized to proactively implement measures to drain water when there is prolonged heavy rain for perennial and short-term crops. At the same time, warn people that areas downstream of the reservoir are often flooded when releasing floodwaters to proactively prevent and minimize the impact of flooding. At the same time, implement a plan to evacuate people and property on both sides of the flood drainage route downstream of the reservoir to ensure safety when implementing the plan to regulate water through the spillway. Localities also proactively deploy measures to respond to thunderstorms with lightning, hail, strong gusts of wind, mobilize forces to support people to overcome the consequences, stabilize their lives soon...

To continue to proactively respond to and overcome disasters, incidents and natural disasters during this year's rainy and stormy season, it is necessary for sectors and localities to continue to proactively forecast climate change and unusual natural disaster developments. It is necessary to continue to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the Party and State's policies and guidelines related to civil defense work. Promote the role and active participation of the Fatherland Front, socio- political organizations, unions and people in responding to and overcoming disasters, incidents and natural disasters. Strengthen facilities, improve the capacity of staff working in the advisory field, meet the requirements of timely, accurate and effective response...

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