Cutting tree branches at risk of falling on Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street in HCM City’s District 3 before the arrival of the rainy season.— VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — The HCM City administration has ordered the city Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Rescue and local authorities to assess 300 sites that face a high risk of landslides and floods in case of heavy rains and storms.

Local authorities need to review and make disaster response plans, Lê Thanh Liêm, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, told an online meeting held last Sunday to review the steering committee’s work last year and make plans for this year to prevent forest fires and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.

In recent years the climate in the city and its surrounding areas had become unpredictable.

Experts had warned about worsening weather conditions, particularly prolonged droughts and heat waves.

Natural disasters, mainly floods, storms and landslides, were expected to occur more frequently.

“Relevant [agencies] must be more proactive to improve the efficacy of prevention measures.”

All preparations had to be completed before the rainy season began.

Personnel, vehicles and equipment had to be on standby to deal with unexpected circumstances in all localities.

The steering committee had been tasked with co-ordinating with the management of Dầu Tiếng Lake in Đồng Nai Province to plan water discharge.

Violations related to advertising billboards, panels, flyers, and posters not complying with safety regulations would be strictly punished.

The Department of Transport needed to step up oversight to ensure safety at ports and ferries.

Authorities in districts 9, Củ Chi, Bình Chánh, and Cần Giờ needed to focus on forest management and fire prevention.

Last year there were 17 fires involving grass and other vegetation in the city on a total area of more than 42ha, but there were no forest fires.

The fires were contained since they detected and handled in a timely manner.

There were three landslides, two storms and six instances of high tides, but no fatalities. — VNS