A landslide took place at Kà Tinh 1 hydropower plant in the central province of Quảng Ngãi in October 2022 following a downpour in this mountainous region. One engineer was killed. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Cường

HÀ NỘI — Natural disasters in Việt Nam caused economic losses of almost VNĐ19.5 trillion (approximately US$830 million) in 2022, 3.4 times more than the loss recorded in 2021, according to a report heard in the conference of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control in Hà Nội on Thursday.

21 out of 22 types of natural disasters, except for a tsunami, were recorded across the country last year, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp.

Also, 175 people were killed or went missing during natural disasters last year, 1.6 times the number in 2021, it was reported at the conference held in a hybrid format with the participation of all 63 provinces and centrally-run cities.  

Since the beginning of this year, seven people have died or gone missing during natural disasters, while economic losses amounted to nearly VNĐ25 billion. In late March, a heatwave brought temperatures to a record high in the northern province of Hoà Bình.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang, who heads the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, urged ministries, agencies and local administrations to change their mindsets from passively responding to proactively preventing natural disasters. He also required investing more in forecasting work.

In addition, tasks in natural disaster prevention and control should be integrated in socio-economic development plans, the Deputy PM said.

Director of the Việt Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, Trần Hồng Thái, said the sector is working to apply new technologies and tools in forecasting work and accelerate the drafting of natural disaster risk maps.

The sector will also make use of modern communications means such as mobile phone apps and social media for forecasting and warning of natural disasters to quickly reach users.

Thái said that in 2023, El Nino is likely to cause reduced rainfall compared to previous years which means increased risks of drought and salt intrusion, but still, storms are expected to be more intense and difficult to forecast. — VNS