Last year’s losses from natural disasters lowest in 20 years
Losses from natural disasters in 2021 were the lowest in 20 years, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh told a conference reviewing last year’s performance of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the Vietnam National Committee for Search and Rescue in Hanoi on January 20.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Losses from natural disasters in2021 were the lowest in 20 years, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh told a conference reviewing last year’s performance of the National SteeringCommittee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the Vietnam NationalCommittee for Search and Rescue in Hanoi on January 20.
He spoke highly of the two committees’ performance over thepast year, he said they have actively coordinated with other agencies and localauthorities to develop scenarios for proper disaster response, savingpeople’s lives and properties.
Thanh ordered the two bodies to not let their guard down andhighly focus on natural disaster response efforts so as to minimise damage, given that weather events are likely to remain complex and uncertain this year.
According to reports delivered at the event, Vietnam saw4,061 natural disasters and accidents last year, causing 530 people dead andmissing, and over 5.2 trillion VND (229.58 million USD) in economic losses.
Deputy Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources LeCong Thanh said his ministry will be accelerating the implementation of aprogramme providing updated zoning of natural disaster-prone areas anddeveloping a disaster alert map, with a focus placed on storm, flooding, flashflood, landslide, drought and saline intrusion this year.
It is forecast that the global temperature will be on a risein 2022, heightening risk of unusual and extreme natural events around the world,particularly in Vietnam.
Tran Quang Hoai, head of the General Department of NaturalDisaster Prevention and Control, said data on storms, flooding and othernatural disasters must be updated accurately and quickly, and it cannot happenwithout the help of advanced technology.
He asked the government to build a project for the promotionof digital transformation in natural disaster response in Vietnam./.
All coastal localities and ministries have been told to urgently deploy measures to prepare for the arrival of typhoon Rai, which is currently in the East Sea with wind speeds of 150-165km per hour near the eye of the storm.
A ceremony was held on January 5 in Hanoi to hand over 100,000 USD from the Vietnamese Government and people to support bereaved families of tornadoes that occurred in Kentucky, the US, last December.
The south-central coastal region, the most disaster-prone in Vietnam, must focus on improving disaster forecasting so early warnings can be produced to facilitate proactive response, an official told the Vietnam News Agency.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
