The Central Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control also disclosed at an online meeting on August 20 that since 2000, over 250 flash floods and landslides have left 646 dead or unaccounted for, and injured nearly 351 others.
The disasters swept away more than 9,700 houses, submerged another 100,000, and flooded 75,000 hectares of rice and subsidiary crops with estimated damages in excess of VND3.3 trillion.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) says it is difficult to accurately forecast flash floods and landslides so devising appropriate and effective methods to prevent and minimise losses is crucially important.
Provinces continually hit with natural disasters include Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Son La, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Yen Bai, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Binh Thuan.
Source: VietNamNet | 21 August 2014
