Prime Minister directs urgent response to storm No. 3

Telegram sent to the Secretaries and Chairmen of the People's Committees of the following provinces and cities: Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Hoa Binh; Ministers of the following Ministries: National Defense, Public Security, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Transport, Construction, Foreign Affairs, Culture, Sports and Tourism.

This morning (September 3, 2024), the storm with the international name YAGI passed Luzon Island (Philippines) into the northeastern region of the East Sea, becoming the third storm active in the East Sea in 2024, with the strongest wind near the storm center reaching level 8, gusting to level 12.

It is forecasted that storm No. 3 will continue to strengthen, with the strongest wind at sea possibly reaching level 13, gusting to level 16 in the coming days, moving rapidly towards Hainan Island (China) and the Gulf of Tonkin, with a very high possibility of directly affecting the sea and mainland of the Northern and North Central regions of our country.

This is a storm that is forecast to be very strong. To proactively respond to storms and floods caused by the storm, the Prime Minister requests:

1. Ministers and Chairmen of the People's Committees of the above-mentioned localities shall proactively organize close monitoring of forecast information and developments of storms, rains, and floods, promptly direct and deploy response work according to the "four on-the-spot" motto according to assigned tasks and authority, and avoid being passive or surprised in order to ensure safety of life and minimize property damage to people.

2. The Chairmen of the People's Committees of the above-mentioned provinces and centrally-run cities shall, based on the actual situation and the potential impact of storms and floods in the locality, proactively and promptly inform, direct and guide people to respond to storms and floods, including:

a) Focus on ensuring safety for activities at sea and on islands:

1) Organize inspection, counting, proactively inform and guide vehicles and vessels (including fishing boats, transport ships, and tourist boats) still operating at sea to know not to enter or exit dangerous areas or to return to safe shelters; take measures to ensure safety for vessels at anchorage areas.

2) Review and deploy measures to ensure safety for tourism, aquaculture, and fishing activities at sea, in river mouths, and along the coast; resolutely evacuate people on rafts and aquaculture watchtowers to safe places before the storm directly affects them.

3) Based on specific situations, proactively decide on sea bans for fishing vessels, transport vessels, and tourist vessels.

b) Ensuring safety in coastal and inland areas:

1) Proactively organize the evacuation of people from unsafe houses and areas at risk of deep flooding and landslides, especially at river mouths and along the coast.

2) Implement measures to ensure safety and limit damage to houses, warehouses, headquarters, public works, industrial parks, factories, and dikes; protect agricultural production and prevent flooding in urban areas and industrial parks.

3) Control traffic, organize traffic flow, guide traffic, and limit people from going out during storms and heavy rains to ensure safety.

c) Ensuring safety in mountainous areas:

1) Proactively evacuate people in areas at risk of deep flooding, flash floods, and landslides; prepare forces, vehicles, equipment, and necessities according to the "four on-the-spot" motto to be ready to respond to all situations.

2) Check and proactively take measures to ensure the safety of reservoirs and downstream areas; arrange standing forces ready to operate, regulate and handle situations.

3) Control and guide safe traffic, especially through culverts, spillways, deep flooded areas, and fast-flowing water; proactively arrange forces, materials, and means to handle incidents, ensuring smooth traffic on main traffic routes.

4). Prepare forces and means to promptly rescue and quickly overcome the consequences of storms and floods if they occur in your agency, unit, or locality.

3. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall closely monitor the situation of storms and floods, proactively direct and closely coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, relevant ministries, branches and localities to promptly and effectively implement the work of ensuring the safety of dykes, dams, protecting agricultural production and aquaculture, and exploiting aquatic and seafood products, promptly reporting and proposing to the Prime Minister on issues beyond his authority.

4. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall closely monitor, increase forecasts, warnings, and provide timely information on storm developments, floods, flash floods, and landslide risks so that relevant agencies and people can proactively deploy response measures.

5. Ministers of the Ministries of National Defense and Public Security direct forces stationed in the area to review response plans, proactively organize and deploy forces and means to be ready to support localities in responding to storms and floods, evacuating people, and conducting rescue and relief work.

6. Ministers of the Ministries of Transport, Industry and Trade and relevant ministries and branches, according to their state management functions and assigned tasks, shall proactively direct and coordinate with localities to deploy work to ensure safety of offshore oil and gas activities, mineral exploitation and power grid systems; operate hydroelectric reservoirs to ensure safety; and ensure traffic safety according to regulations.

7. Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency and other media agencies increase the time and report promptly on the developments of storms, floods and storm response work so that people know and proactively prevent and avoid them.

8. The Minister of Health directs the agencies under his authority to handle issues related to environmental sanitation, food safety, etc. caused by storms, rain, and floods.

9. Assign Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to directly monitor and direct ministries, branches and localities to implement this Official Dispatch.

10. The Government Office, according to its assigned functions and tasks, shall monitor and urge the implementation of this Official Dispatch and promptly report to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in charge on any urgent or arising issues./.