Shifting from Passive Response to Proactive Prevention in Disaster Management
(DTO) The Government on the afternoon of April 1 held a nationwide hybrid conference on natural disaster prevention and control for 2026. The event was co-chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai, and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.
At the Dong Thap venue provincial bridge, Vice Chairperson of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Phuoc Thien presided over the session.
In 2025, natural disasters were exceptionally fierce. The country endured 679 disaster events, including a record-breaking 21 storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea—the highest number ever recorded.
Storms, heavy rains and historic floods occurred consecutively, causing extremely serious consequences. Nearly 1,300 people were reported dead or missing, with total damages estimated at more than VND 104.733 trillion, severely affecting people’s lives and livelihoods.
In Dong Thap province, in 2025, natural disasters left two people dead due to thunderstorms and lightning, and 23 others injured. Property damage was estimated at around VND 543.23 billion, a decrease of VND 520.23 billion compared to 2024.
In 2026, natural disasters are forecast to continue developing in a complex, extreme and unpredictable manner. Therefore, to proactively prevent and respond to natural disasters, the Government requested ministries, sectors and localities to proactively review disaster preparedness plans.
Priority should be given to ensuring the safety of dykes, reservoirs, dams and disaster prevention infrastructure; integrating disaster prevention and control into socio-economic development planning and plans; organizing training and drills to raise community awareness and promote community-based disaster risk management; and focusing on drills for high-risk disasters with major potential impacts.
In his directive speech, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that natural disasters are becoming increasingly unusual due to the impacts of climate change. He requested ministries, sectors and localities to shift from a passive response to proactive prevention, with people placed at the center, ensuring that no one is left behind.
He emphasized that sectors and localities must improve forecasting capacity and ensure the safety of dykes, reservoirs and dams early on in order to best protect people’s lives and property.
At the same time, it is necessary to continue improving mechanisms and policies and strengthen disaster prevention and control capacity, while promoting the application of science, technology and digital transformation in management and operations to minimize disaster-related losses.
By H. Tuyen – T. D
Translated by X.QUANG
