On July 9, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control held a meeting to look into natural disasters which severely impacted the country in the first half of the year.
Through the first six months of this year, several disasters affected Vietnam’s GDP. It is estimated that weather-related disasters cost the country 1-1.5% of annual GDP. Specifically in 2018 thus far, Vietnam has suffered a loss of VND868 billion (US$39 million), according to Dan Tri.
Vietnam’s geographical location means it is prone to a variety of disasters. As stated by Dan Tri, Vietnam was ranked among the five countries in the world most likely to be acutely affected by climate change.
The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control reported that from January to June this year, the country experienced 14 different types of natural disasters. Most noticeably, floods in the mountainous northern region starting June, which left 23 dead and at least 10 missing, in addition to causing financial losses of up to VND500 million.
According to Dan Tri, the Lai Chau Province People’s Committee Deputy Chairman Le Trong Quang said at the meeting that there was a need to educate people in disaster-stricken areas on skills for surviving severe weather conditions. Additionally, storm and flood protection systems need to be built. He also added that it was necessary to establish a task force to warn people about risks beforehand, in addition to aiding locals in solving urgent situations.
Meanwhile, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorology and Forecasting estimates that Vietnam will experience eight to 10 tropical storms this year, with four or five directly hitting the mainland.
[Photo via Reuters]
