Hanoi (VNA) – As of May 29, floods, whirlwinds, andlandslides in Vietnam’s northern region killed two people and injured twoothers, while causing heavy property losses, according to the Office of the CentralSteering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

The committee said that floods, whirlwinds, and landslidescollapsed 53 houses, while blowing the roof off of four factories – forcing onehousehold to evacuate, and drowning 26.2 ha of rice fields and 17.7 ha ofcrops.

Landslides blocked many streets, three irrigation works,with estimated losses of 1.43 billion VND.

Amidst the complicated development of natural disasters, thecommittee asked the Steering Committees of Natural Disaster Prevention andControl, Search, and Rescue of provinces and cities to strictly implement guidelineson natural disaster prevention and actively respond to heavy rains and floods.

It is necessary to direct TV and radio stations, as well as localmedia agencies to strengthen communications on skills to cope with urgentsituations among the community, it requested.

In order to minimise losses, the committee asked the VietnamTelevision and other central media agencies to strengthen the reports on alertsof widespread rains, flash floods, and landslides in the northern mountainouslocalities.

The Steering Committees of Natural Disaster Prevention andControl, Search, and Rescue of localities should keep a close watch ondevelopments of natural disasters, and inform locals to actively respond tothem. They were asked to regularly report the natural disaster situations tothe Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Preventionand Control.–VNA