Prime Minister demands prompt handling of natural disaster consequences in central region

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is now in South Africa to attend the G20 Summit, presided over an online meeting on November 23 to evaluate and handle the consequences of unusual heavy rains in several central localities.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presides over an online meeting to evaluate the consequences of natural disasters in several central localities, Johannesburg, South Africa, November 23, 2025. Photo: VGP

The meeting brought together Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and leaders of Da Nang, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong.

Over the past few days, floods caused by unusual heavy rains have left 102 dead and missing in the aforesaid five localities, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Around 186,000 houses were flooded; 1,154 homes were damaged; more than 3.2 million livestock and poultry were killed or swept away, the ministry added.

Total damages were estimated at over VND9 trillion, including VND650 billion in Quang Ngai, VND1,000 billion in Gia Lai, VND5,330 billion in Dak Lak, VND1,000 billion in Khanh Hoa, and VND1,055 billion in Lam Dong.

On November 21, the Government decided to allocate VND700 billion in emergency aid to help Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Gia Lai and Dak Lak to overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

The Ministry of National Defense has mobilized 44,668 turns of officers and soldiers, 2,231 turns of equipment to join evacuation and rescue efforts, and three helicopters to distribute 86.5 tons of goods to residents in flooded areas.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Scurity has mobilized 98,509 turns of policemen and 13,566 turns of equipment to help local residents overcome the consequences of natura disasters.

The Ministry of Finance allocated 4,000 tons of rice to support residents in Gia Lai and Khanh Hoa.

As of Sunday morning, the electricity sector has restored power supply to more than 920,000 customers and is working to resume power supply to 258,000 customers who are without electricity.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Pham tasked inferior levels to promptly handle the consequences of natural disasters in the central localities.

The Government chief tasked the Ministry of Finance to provide additional VND1,100 billion in emergency relief aid to help these localities to repair damaged houses and transport works.

Specifically, the Ministry of Finance shall immediately allocate additional VND500 billion from central budget for Dak Lak, VND150 billion for Gia Lai, VND150 billion for Khanh Hoa, and VND300 billion for Lam Dong.

In addition, the Government will immediately allocate additional 3,000 tons of rice from State reserve to help residents in need in Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Lam Dong.

Pham also tasked Deputy Prime Ministers to oversee the handling of consequences of natural disasters in these localities.

He urged local administrations to promptly review areas being isolated to provide necessary support and assistance, including treatment for injured residents, and exert the highest efforts in finding the missing.

The Government chief also asked local authorities to immediately organize the reconstruction of houses destroyed or swept away by floods, completing this task before January 31, 2026 (before the Lunar New Year holiday).

The Ministry of Education and Training shall be responsible for coordinating with local administrations to repair or reconstruct damaged shools as soon as possible, Pham ordered.

Source: VGP