President visits flood-hit provinces

In Thuan Loi hamlet, Phuoc Thuan commune, Ninh Phuoc district of Ninh Thuan province, which

was devastated by flood, President Triet extended his sympathy over losses of property to local residents.

He urged local authorities to care for the life of the people, helping to bring them back to a normal life and resume production soon.

The President handed over presents to flood-hit families and donated VND 200 million as relief aid to Thuan Loi hamlet.

President Triet and his entourage made a field trip to the 10km Dinh river bank that was breached by floodwaters.

At a working session with Ninh Thuan provincial officials, the President said central agencies should help the province overcome the aftermath of floods, provide it with 2,000 tonnes of rice and VND 50 billion to cover difficulties.

By the afternoon of November 2, floods had claimed three lives and left one missing. The calamity inundated 5,150 houses, damaged 454 others, inundated 13,000 ha of plants, washed away cattle and poultry and sank 14 ships.

Also the same day, President Triet visited Khanh Hoa province, asking local authorities to continue preventive measures for heavy rains in the coming days as well as to care for people and resume normal life as soon as possible.

Khanh Hoa province was an economic hub in the central region, particularly in tourism, he said, urging the province to rebuild infrastructure and help businesses back to normal production.

The province asked the Government, ministries and agencies to provide 100 tonnes of rice seeds, 1 tonne of vegetable varieties, 500 tonnes of rice, 500,000 disinfection tablets and 1,000kg of Cloramin B. The province also asked the Government to provide VND 100 billion for recovery of production and repairing transport and irrigation infrastructure and aquaculture projects.

The President said the central authority would provide Khanh Hoa with 500 tonnes of rice along with rice seeds, vegetable varieties and disinfection tablets and VND 30 billion to help the province to quickly repair essential infrastructure.

President Triet also visited and handed over gifts to affected people in Cam Thinh Dong commune of Cam Ranh town and Vinh Trung commune of Nha Trang city.

The natural calamity claimed five lives, left another missing and injured two others in the province. It also submerged 9,190 houses, demolished 161 others, inundated almost 7,400 hectares of rice and crops fields, washed away 23,000 poultry and cattle, sank nine ships, and damaged transport routes. The total losses are estimated at nearly VND 300 billion.

Later the same day, President Triet made a tour of Phu Yen province, giving instructions on the steps to recovery along with advice on coping with floods and heavy rains, as an offshore tropical low pressure system is moving toward the continent.

He pledged the government and ministries would provide food and essentials to people in flooded areas. The Ministry of Public Security is on standby to help local forces with rescue efforts.

Heavy rains from October 29 claimed four lives and left one person missing. The calamity also inundated 2,100 houses, 2,200 hectares of crops and destroyed roads. Initial losses are estimated at over VND 95 billion.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as public security and the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control accompanied President Triet.