VietNamNet Bridge – In the past five years (2008-2012), there were 1,868 people dead and missing in natural disasters in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the management of boats and fishermen at sea is limited, said Nguyen Xuan Dieu – Deputy Chief of the General Department of Irrigation.
A 18m TV tower in Nam Dinh city collapsed in a storm last year.
According to Dieu, the number of victims of natural resources in this period is down by 162 from the 2003-2008 period. The number of injured people also reduced by 600, to nearly 3,000 and the total value of property damage is estimated at VND74 trillion ($370 million)
Dieu adds that the number of fishermen who lost their lives in natural calamities in the past five years also significantly reduced. This is the result of more comprehensive measures, such as hurricane forecasts with a longer expected time, timely communication with fishing boats in storms, etc.
“There were still deaths caused by floods in many localities due to the people’s subjectivity and carelessness, as well as the local authorities’ indetermination in mobilization, inspection and supervision of anti-flood and storm activities,” Mr. Dieu says.
The weather forecast activities of the National Center for Meteorological Forecast are still complained against for inaccuracy in some cases, which affected the effectiveness of preparedness and response against disasters of localities.
Talking about the management of ships at sea, Major General Pham Hoai Giang – Chief of the National Committee for Search and Rescue – says that this work is still insufficient. Fishermen still hide their fishing grounds, the quality of vessels are not guaranteed, many boats do not have life jackets, and some boats still use explosives for fishing.
“In 2012, there were 119 cases of fake information of marine accidents, causing difficulty and losses for the search and rescue forces,” Giang adds.
For the 2013 storm season, Director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecast – Mr. Bui Minh Tang – says as the summer comes early, the stormy season will also come early in the East Sea, with 11-13 storms and tropical depressions. Half of them will directly affect the mainland.
According to Tang, this year’s average temperature is higher than the annual average of the previous years. The heat is also more intense. In the central region, the rainy season this year will be relatively intense, with heavy rainfall, concentrated in August – November. Flood will be high in the river system.
M. Lan