On the morning of October 29, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an urgent online meeting with flood-hit provinces in central Vietnam to coordinate response and recovery efforts following the region’s historic rainfall and widespread flooding.

Joining the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (from the Hue City conference point), along with senior officials from ministries and local authorities.

According to a report from the Office of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, as of the morning of October 29, nine people had been confirmed dead and five were reported missing due to the floods in the central region.

Historic rainfall demands swift, comprehensive response

“This is an exceptionally large-scale flood event in central Vietnam, with many areas recording unprecedented rainfall,” the Prime Minister stated.

He emphasized that the government has directed early and timely flood response efforts, closely tracking developments and deploying resources efficiently.

The Prime Minister instructed all relevant ministries and local authorities to urgently assess and update damage reports and submit them to the Politburo, the Secretariat, and other competent bodies.

He also called on party committees and local administrations to swiftly visit, support, and assist affected residents, especially families of the deceased and missing. Authorities were urged to implement the best possible policies, including funeral support for victims and medical care for the injured.

Local governments must continue evacuation operations for people in high-risk zones, including areas prone to landslides and flash floods. It is critical to ensure food, clean water, disinfectants, and essential supplies reach residents in deeply flooded and isolated areas. The Prime Minister stressed, “By any means necessary, supplies must be delivered.”

Urgent relief ordered for hardest-hit areas

Localities in need of rice, food, or dried rations were instructed to submit support requests immediately. The central government pledged to deliver an initial emergency provision of 2 tons of dried rations to Hue City, with Military Zone 5 tasked with distribution. Armed forces and police must mobilize immediately to deliver aid to isolated communities.

The Ministry of Defense, along with Military Zones 4 and 5, and the Ministry of Public Security were directed to deploy vehicles, boats, and canoes for disaster relief missions. The Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, and the Ministry of Health, were ordered to send additional personnel to affected areas to ensure access to clean water, food, and medicine.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with the Ministry of Science and Technology, was tasked with coordinating efforts by EVN (Electricity of Vietnam) and telecommunications providers like VNPT and Viettel to restore power and connectivity as quickly as possible. Reliable communication is essential for timely public information.

The Prime Minister also instructed that plans be developed immediately for post-flood recovery, especially regarding schools and medical facilities. “No child should go without education. No patient should go without treatment. No citizen should go hungry or be left in tattered clothing,” he said.

Financial support approved for provinces

All ministries and departments must proactively address emergency requests from local governments. Any issue beyond their authority must be escalated to the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Finance was ordered to allocate emergency funds: approximately USD 6 million (150 billion VND) to Hue City, and around USD 4 million (100 billion VND) each to Quang Ngai and Quang Tri. Additional resources from the national reserve will also be mobilized.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha will continue to lead the frontline command center and report directly to the Prime Minister as needed.

Over 110,000 households impacted by historic floods

According to Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang, the historic rainfall and flooding submerged 32 of 40 communes in Hue, affecting more than 35,000 households. In Da Nang, over 75,000 households have been impacted.

From Hue, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha reported that although floodwaters were receding, the scope of damage was extensive. Local authorities have been proactive in managing the situation and ensuring close oversight of community needs.

Evacuations will continue through October 31 for vulnerable highland and landslide-prone areas. Cleanup operations, infrastructure repair, and environmental sanitation efforts are also underway to restore normalcy during and after the floods.

Huong Quynh