Prime Minister: 'The best thing so far is that there have been no human casualties'

On the morning of September 28, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an online meeting to assess the situation, overcome damage and draw lessons from the response to storm No. 4. Attending the meeting at the Da Nang bridge point were Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, Head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, and leaders of ministries, branches and central agencies.

The Prime Minister gave instructions at the meeting. Photo: Nhat Bac.

The meeting was connected online from the Government to the Frontline Steering Committee for Storm Response No. 4 in Da Nang City and the People's Committees of Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum provinces.

Storm prevention results are not due to luck.

Reporting at the meeting, the leaders of Quang Nam province said that the province has established 4 teams to inspect and overcome the consequences of the storm. However, in the context of increasingly complex natural disasters, Quang Nam and Kon Tum recently had earthquakes, the province recommended further research and assessment of the cause of the earthquakes.

Quang Nam province also recommended the participation of scientists to forecast and warn early about landslides in mountainous areas to evacuate people.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that up to now, storm No. 4 has passed with minimal property damage and no human casualties. According to the Minister, in the work of preventing and fighting this storm, many things did not happen by luck, but this was really the effort and initiative of all levels and sectors.

“The proactive measures, implemented early, from afar, synchronously and drastically from the central to local levels, thereby, we have minimized the damage caused by the storm, even though this is considered a big storm,” said Minister Le Minh Hoan.

Informing that there will be 10-12 more storms forecasted from now until the end of the year, Minister Le Minh Hoan said that from the experience of fighting storms this time, many lessons have been drawn so that we can be more proactive in responding to storms that may hit our country.

Emphasizing that the fact that no one has died due to the storm so far is a good thing, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh pointed out a number of lessons learned. First, it was the early, decisive direction in storm prevention and control. The Prime Minister continuously held meetings and issued telegrams to respond to the storm. Next, the political system took action with a high sense of responsibility and thorough preparation.

From early morning, the mobile police force was deployed to help people overcome the damage after the storm passed. Photo: Vietnamnet

The people consciously obeyed and trusted the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Party Committee and the government. Accordingly, by 5 p.m. on September 27, there was no one left on the streets. “In the past, there were many accidents due to trees falling on the road, falling into the river, and houses having their roofs blown off,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister especially emphasized the solidarity among the people that contributed to the results of storm prevention and control. "People living in level 4 houses moved to stay at more solid houses of their neighbors, there are hotels for people to take shelter," the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that this morning, when he surveyed some areas in Thua Thien Hue, he saw the solidarity and mutual solidarity among the people.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that localities in the coming time review, evaluate, and summarize the damage caused by the storm, report to the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee and report to the Prime Minister to promptly overcome the consequences of the storm. Immediately after the meeting, a number of works such as electricity, schools, and houses with blown-off roofs need to be urgently restored.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted to avoid complacency after the storm and requested to review dangerous areas such as spillways and areas at high risk of landslides to arrange forces on duty and not allow people to pass through these areas.

Students return to school tomorrow

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended the timely and effective participation of the entire political system, the drastic and synchronous direction of all levels, sectors, localities, military and police forces, etc. in preventing and combating storm No. 4. Thanks to that, the damage to people's lives and property has been minimized.

“The best news so far is that there have been no casualties. According to the latest report, only four people were injured in Quang Tri,” the Prime Minister said, sending the Government’s condolences to the injured and families whose property was damaged by the storm.

The Prime Minister requested to urgently assess the damage, immediately deploy solutions to overcome the consequences caused by the storm, quickly stabilize the spiritual and material life of the people. Timely organize encouragement, visit and support for families affected by the storm, create conditions for students to return to school as soon as tomorrow.

“Absolutely do not let people go hungry, cold, or homeless; do not let disease outbreaks occur due to environmental pollution after storms and floods,” the head of the Government said, requesting localities to compile statistics and assess the damage situation and immediately send it to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control for synthesis and reporting to the Prime Minister.

In the immediate future, localities will proactively use the natural disaster prevention and control fund, local budgets, and legal capital sources to immediately handle and remedy damage to State and people's property. The Ministry of Finance is ready to support localities with rice and funding. The Ministry of Transport and relevant ministries and branches will urgently support the repair of landslides on key traffic routes, ensuring smooth and safe traffic.

Vietnam Electricity Group and its member units are required to urgently restore the power transmission system, ensuring power supply for production, business and consumption. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and other ministries and branches closely monitor the situation and promptly forecast weather and natural disaster developments.

“Absolutely do not be subjective or negligent,” the Prime Minister requested, continuing to strictly implement the directions of the Government and the Prime Minister on natural disaster prevention and control, with a more prepared and proactive spirit, thoroughly grasping the “4 on-site” motto (focusing on the locality and people), ensuring safety when carrying out search, rescue and relief activities (if any).

With many lessons learned from responding to storm No. 4, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches, agencies, localities and units to conduct research to prevent and combat natural disasters and storms and floods in the coming time.