Deputy PM urges quick help for storm-hit localities

Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has asked relevant
ministries and agencies to focus on search and rescue while helping northern
localities overcome the aftermaths of storm Hagupit.

The forecast of and response to the recent natural disaster was relatively
good, Deputy PM Hai said, adding, however, that much remains to be done to
ensure safety for flood-hit people as the fatalities and missing were still
high.

Hai was chairing a meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and
Storm Prevention and Control in Hanoi on September 27.

Statistics released at the meeting showed that by early morning of the same
day, floods had killed 21 people in the provinces of Quang Ninh, Bac Giang,
Son La, Lang Son and Vinh Phuc, injuring 27 persons and leaving 4 others
missing.

Floods have ruined 2,500 houses, submerged nearly 100,000 ha of rice and
cash crops, and destroyed nearly 190,000 cu.m. of roads and 17 irrigation
works.

On September 27, the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee decided to donate a
total of 400 million VND worth of commodities to the hardest hit provinces
of Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Son La and Lang Son.

The four localities will also receive 100 million VND each from the
organisation to buy necessities and support victims' families.

Storm Hagupit has caused rainfall of up to 500mm in some areas of Luc Nam
and the Thai Binh river region. The river level is rising fast, with current
depths over 7m, 1.2m higher than alert level 3.

Experts warned of flooding and landslides in the provinces of Lang Son,
Bac Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan , Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen and said the
country should prepare for more heavy rains and a drop in temperature in the
north over the next few days. The south would also experience rainfall due
to a southwesterly wind.-