The Ministry of Finance delegation worked with the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control - Search and Rescue and Nghe An Civil Defense.

Nghe An is the province with the largest area in the country with 16,492.5 km², in which, mountainous and midland areas account for 83%; plains and coastal areas account for 17%. With diverse terrain along withharsh climateso natural disasters often occur in the area. In 2021, manyExtreme weather phenomena such as tornadoes, lightning, cold, rain, storms causing flooding have occurred in many places. Especially the stormStorm No. 6 has caused heavy rain and flooding since September 23.until September 27, 2021.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Thanh - Head of the Irrigation Sub-Department, Chief of Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province reported to the working delegation on the natural disaster situation in the past year in the area. Photo: Tien Dong

In 2021, natural disasters killed 6 people; injured 4 people; collapsed 18 houses; damaged 22 houses, roofs blown off; 337 houses affected by landslides; 3,934 houses flooded; 812 households had to be evacuated due to flooding and landslides...; estimated economic damage of about 698,966 billion VND.

In addition, in 2021, there were 56 accidents and incidents involving ships at sea in the province, killing 23 people, leaving 7 missing, and injuring 2 people; 4 vehicles were completely burned, 11 vehicles and 3 rafts sank.

Because the midland and mountainous areas account for a high proportion, landslides often occur, causing serious damage to people and property. Photo: BNA documents

In early 2022 alone, many natural disasters occurred in the area, of which, from April 30 to May 22, there were many heavy rains, injuring 1 person, completely damaging 6 houses; roofs were blown off, damaging 215 houses, 1 school was affected, damaging 434.51 hectares of rice; 991.68 hectares of corn and crops; 550.92 hectares of perennial crops; 3.77 hectares of annual crops; 8.98 fruit trees; 4,412 livestock and poultry died; 16,697 hectares of aquaculture were damaged; 263.6 m³Fish cages were washed away and damaged.

In addition to the large area, natural disasters often occur, causing many facilities and infrastructures to be destroyed, and causing damage to crops, livestock and people. In addition, due to the difficulties of the province, investment resources for recovery and reconstruction after natural disasters are very limited, mainly focusing on urgent, short-term consequences.

Mr. Vu Duc Hoi - Deputy Director of the State Budget Department, Ministry of Finance spoke at the meeting. Photo: Tien Dong

At the meeting, the representative of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense also proposed to the Ministry of Finance to consider and submit to the Prime Minister to support Nghe An province with funding to build, repair and upgrade key works for natural disaster prevention and control as well as to handle landslides and subsidence in the province. In particular, there are a number of key works such as the Ta Lam dike section from K9+000 to K10+890 that have not been repaired or upgraded, the dike surface is small (3m wide, equal to 1/2 of the dike surface width according to the Plan), the height of the dike body is large, the dike is close to the river, there are 2 drainage culverts under the dike built during the French colonial period... posing a potential risk of insecurity when there is a big flood on the Lam River.

The Lam River bank is increasingly being encroached upon. Photo: Tien Dong

In addition, there are sea dikes that were built a long time ago and are currently only able to withstand level 10 storms and 5% tidal frequency. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in upgrading sea dikes to standards that can withstand level 12 storms and rising sea levels due to climate change.

In addition, through review, currently in the province there are 169 locations and areas where subsidence and landslides have occurred or are at risk of occurring, affecting 3,064 households/12,283 people and infrastructure.

The working group and representatives of departments, agencies and sectors inspected the landslide situation on the Lam River bank, below Yen Xuan Bridge, in Hung Nguyen District. Photo: Tien Dong

Not to mention that currently in Nghe An province, there are 50 damaged and degraded irrigation reservoirs at risk of being unsafe, of which 12 are in the priority group that urgently need to be repaired and upgraded.

After listening to the report of the representative of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense, Mr. Vu Duc Hoi - Deputy Director of the State Budget Department, Ministry of Finance said: Basically, Nghe An has closely followed the policy, promptly reported the situation of natural disaster prevention, search and rescue. This will be the basis for the working group to gather to present to the Ministry's leaders, advise the Prime Minister to make the final decision.