photo by Chuck KuhnAnnually, land between Thanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces suffers 65% of the total typhoons, floods, and tropical depressions in Vietnam. How to mitigate the misfortunes of citizens in these areas was the matter discussed by experts at a recent workshop in the central city of Da Nang.
According to the Central Steering Board for Flood and Storm Control, typhoons and floods cause losses equivalent to 1% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP). The central region, with around 10 million, suffers the heaviest losses. Last year three floods killed 167 people, forced nearly 60,000 families to evacuate, and damaged more than 60,000ha of crops in the region.
There is a paradox that the rainfall didn’t increase but floods got more serious year on year. According to the Central Region Hydrometeorology Station, the average rainfall on major rivers like Vu Gia and Thu Bon of Quang Nam province was 1,300mm/day during the flood in November 1999, double that of the flood in early November 2007. However, the flood in 2007 was 0.2-0.5m higher than that in 1999.
Experts say people are harming themselves. Statistics by the forest sector show that Vietnam loses around 100,000ha of forest each year on average, which causes floods.
Another reason, according to Vice Chairman of Da Nang city, Tran Phuoc Chinh, is the upgrade and expansion of national highways, such as 1A, 14B, and the North-South railways, which prevent water drainage, resulting in longer floods.
The construction of coastal residential areas, tourist sites, hotels and resorts is the third reason as they change the flows of rivers, narrow seaports, etc.
Experts suggest that policy makers amend construction plans and build shelters from floods and storms for people in the central region.
In December 2007, the government assigned the Ministry of Construction to design a living-with-flood project for central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment and the administrations of 11 related provinces must cooperate with the Ministry of Construction to implement this project.
(Source: VNE)
According to the Central Steering Board for Flood and Storm Control, typhoons and floods cause losses equivalent to 1% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP). The central region, with around 10 million, suffers the heaviest losses. Last year three floods killed 167 people, forced nearly 60,000 families to evacuate, and damaged more than 60,000ha of crops in the region.
There is a paradox that the rainfall didn’t increase but floods got more serious year on year. According to the Central Region Hydrometeorology Station, the average rainfall on major rivers like Vu Gia and Thu Bon of Quang Nam province was 1,300mm/day during the flood in November 1999, double that of the flood in early November 2007. However, the flood in 2007 was 0.2-0.5m higher than that in 1999.
Experts say people are harming themselves. Statistics by the forest sector show that Vietnam loses around 100,000ha of forest each year on average, which causes floods.
Another reason, according to Vice Chairman of Da Nang city, Tran Phuoc Chinh, is the upgrade and expansion of national highways, such as 1A, 14B, and the North-South railways, which prevent water drainage, resulting in longer floods.
The construction of coastal residential areas, tourist sites, hotels and resorts is the third reason as they change the flows of rivers, narrow seaports, etc.
Experts suggest that policy makers amend construction plans and build shelters from floods and storms for people in the central region.
In December 2007, the government assigned the Ministry of Construction to design a living-with-flood project for central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment and the administrations of 11 related provinces must cooperate with the Ministry of Construction to implement this project.
(Source: VNE)
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