In a telegram released on August 11, the PM asked the leaders of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Bac Kan provinces to ensure sufficient supplies of relief aid such as food, drinking water and medicine to the flooded and isolated areas. He requested them to take care of passengers, including foreigners, stranded at bus and railway stations and arrange means of transport to bring them to safe areas.

According to the telegram, the Ministry of Transport will mobilise all forces available to clear blocked routes to facilitate rescue work and transport of stranded passengers. Even helicopters will be used to evacuate the sick and injured people and bring food, drinking water and medicine to areas in dire need of necessities.

The Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, is responsible for clearing traffic flow and transporting stranded passengers to safe areas.

The army plays the leading role in the rescue work, said the PM in the telegram.

As torrential rain is expected to continue in the coming days, the PM asked the National Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to instruct local authorities to immediately deploy flood prevention plans and work around the clock to cope with any emergencies.  

Additional VND1.6 billion for flood-hit localities

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) has decided to provide an additional VND1.6 billion to six northern mountainous provinces ravaged by the current floods.

The announcement was made at a press briefing in Hanoi on August 11. Accordingly, Lao Cai will receive VND400 million, Yen Bai VND300 million, Phu Tho VND300 million, Ha Giang VND200 million, Tuyen Quang VND200.000 and Bac Kan VND200 million.

Ha Thi Lien, a member of the VFF Central Committee said that the VFF on August 11 cabled a telegram to its chapters in cities and provinces across the country, asking them to coordinate with their administrations to donate charity to the victims.