PM calls for preventive solutions against severe cold wave
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 23 issued an official dispatch instructing local administrations of northern and north central localities and relevant ministries to take measure to urgently deal with the prolonged and severe cold wave that is affecting people and agricultural production.
Ice seen on plants at O Quy Ho peak in Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 23 issued an officialdispatch instructing local administrations of northern and north central localities and relevant ministries to take measure to urgently deal with the prolonged and severe cold wave that is affecting people and agricultural production.
In the past few days, a strong coldair wave pushed the temperature down to under 10 degree C in the northern region, with mountainoushighland areas encountering frost and ice.
The National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said thisis the most intense cold spell in the 2023-2024 winter so far.
The people’s committees of provinces and cities in the north and north centralregions were asked to take comprehensive measures to prevent and minimise the effects of cold weather on human health and agricultural production.
The dispatchunderlined the requirement to enhance communication activities to popularise relevantinformation and provide guidance to the public on ways to ensure the health and safety of the people, especially the elderly,children, and vulnerable people; and protect animals and plants.
Local authorities must keep a close watch on and regularly updateweather developments, and provide timely notifications to the residents, itsaid.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development wasrequested to closelymonitor and guide localities in the implementation of measures to care for animals and crops while preparing productionplans for the Winter-Spring crop, especially adjusting crop structures to suit weatherconditions.
The Ministry of Health was tasked with coordinating with information and mediaagencies to popular knowledge, guides, and advice to people on effective andsafe disease prevention measures.
The dispatch also asked for the collaboration of the Ministriesof Natural Resources and Environment, Communications and Information, the VietnamTelevision, the Voice of Vietnam radio broadcaster, the Vietnam News Agency, and other pressagencies, in providing relevant information, concentrating on knowledge and effectivesolutions to copewith severe cold./.
The National Centre for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecast has reported that the temperature in the northern region will continue to decrease deeply over the coming days.
A strong cold wave is forecast to affect the northern mountainous areas in the evening of January 28, bringing rain across the northern region and the north central province of Thanh Hoa until the next day.
Thick ice and frost have appeared on the peak of Mount Phja Oac in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang since early February 20, as temperatures dropped to below zero degree Celsius.
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Ice seen on plants at O Quy Ho peak in Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province. (Photo: VNA) 
