Soldiers from the La Lay International Border Gate's Border Guard Station assist in addressing the aftermath and helping local residents stabilise their lives in the central province of Quảng Trị. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng ordered continued proactive disaster response and faster flood recovery in an urgent official dispatch on Friday.

The official dispatch was sent to the chairpersons of the People's Committees of Lào Cai, Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Sơn La, Tuyên Quang, Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng, Thái Nguyên, Phú Thọ, Bắc Ninh, Quảng Ninh, Hà Nội, Hưng Yên, Hải Phòng, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh and Quảng Trị, along with the National Steering Committee for Civil Defence, ministries and state media agencies.

It noted that heavy rain, flooding, whirlwinds and lightning have killed people across the north and north-central regions.

In the central province of Nghệ An, floods inundated roads, washed away temporary bridges, cut transport and temporarily isolated remote villages in Tam Thái Commune.

Without swift action, the damage could disrupt daily life and keep students from attending school at the start of the academic year.

Meanwhile, a tropical depression in the Gulf of Tonkin is moving slowly and may strengthen into a storm, bringing heavy rain to parts of the eastern northern region in the coming days, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Following an earlier official dispatch on August 17, PM Hưng called on authorities to continue monitoring the situation, respond quickly to the tropical depression and address flood damage within their mandates.

The chairpersons of the provincial and municipal People’s Committees were asked to ensure the safety of boats and vessels operating on rivers and at sea, particularly in the Gulf of Tonkin.

They must continue reviewing and proactively evacuating residents from areas at risk of deep flooding, flash floods and landslides, and offer support to families hit by the disasters, especially those who lost members.

Traffic safety must be ensured at fords, spillways and roads prone to deep flooding and landslides.

Localities must keep personnel, supplies and equipment ready for recovery work immediately after floods and heavy rain. — VNA/VNS