Flash floods and landslides are predicted to be more frequent in 2017.

(Baonghean.vn) - According to the assessment of the North Central Region Meteorological and Hydrological Station at this morning's meeting at the Provincial People's Committee on the implementation of disaster prevention and control tasks in 2017, the weather and natural disaster situation will continue to be complex and unpredictable. Flash floods and landslides in 2017 will occur more frequently than in 2016.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - presided over the meeting. Photo: Van Truong

In 2016, Nghe An province experienced several natural disasters such as severe cold spells, prolonged heatwaves, tornadoes, and thunderstorms, causing damage to production and people's lives. In 2016, Nghe An was affected by two typhoons, numbers 3 and 4, which brought heavy to very heavy rain, causing a major flood in the upper reaches of the Hieu and Ca rivers, and resulting in flash floods, landslides, and mudslides in the districts of Que Phong, Quy Chau, Tuong Duong, etc.; causing widespread flooding in low-lying areas of the province.

In 2016, natural disasters killed 15 people and injured 15; destroyed, swept away, or damaged over 10,000 houses; damaged over 62,500 hectares of agricultural and aquaculture production areas; killed over 100,000 livestock and poultry; and damaged many irrigation works, rural roads, dikes, schools, water supply systems, and other essential infrastructure. The total estimated economic damage exceeded 1,600 billion VND.

Seven collectives and nine individuals were awarded Certificates of Commendation by the Provincial People's Committee for their outstanding achievements in disaster prevention, search and rescue work in 2016. Photo: Van Truong.

According to the assessment of the North Central Region Meteorological and Hydrological Station, the weather and natural disaster situation continues to be complex and unpredictable: temperatures in 2017 continue to be higher than the average; the rainy season arrives late but the rainfall is approximately the same or higher than the average; typhoons appear earlier and more frequently than the average; flash floods and landslides occur more often than in 2016.

Inspecting PCBL at Dien Thanh - Dien Chau sluice gate. (Illustrative photo by Van Truong)

To cope with natural disasters in 2017, at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duong - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - requested that departments, agencies, localities, and units focus on directing and organizing the effective implementation of propaganda, dissemination, and raising awareness so that people have measures to prevent, respond to, and overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

Review and develop specific evacuation and relocation plans for residents before the rainy and stormy season; decisively direct the evacuation of people from dangerous areas before natural disasters occur; strengthen forecasting and warning efforts for types of natural disasters that have a wide-ranging, prolonged impact, cause significant damage, and can be predicted and warned about early, such as typhoons, floods, cold spells, droughts, and saltwater intrusion.

Forecasts and warnings need to be specific, clear, and easy to understand to provide timely guidance in production. Focus on implementing infrastructure projects to increase the resilience of essential infrastructure.

On this occasion, 7 collectives and 9 individuals were awarded Certificates of Commendation by the Provincial People's Committee for their outstanding achievements in disaster prevention and search and rescue work in 2016.

Flash floods in Anh Son in 2016. Archival photo.

Van Truong