Anti-erosion infrastructure must be upgraded before rainy season: deputy minister

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp has urged localities nationwide to step up the construction and repair of structures designed to prevent erosion along river banks and coastal areas before the rainy season in order to minimise losses caused by natural disasters.

CÀ MAU Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp has urged localities nationwide to step up the construction and repair of structures designed to prevent erosion along river banks and coastal areas before the rainy season in order to minimise losses caused by natural disasters.

He spoke at a conference on Friday held by the Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to discuss preparing for the coming rainy season in the southern region.

According to the committee, there were many extreme and abnormal weather conditions across provinces and cities nationwide last year. Natural disasters killed 224 people and caused economic losses of nearly VNĐ20 trillion (US$870 million).

In the Mekong Delta region, there were 123 hail storms and thunderstorms, accounting for 55 per cent of the country’s total. Ten people went missing or were killed due to 441 instances of river bank and coastal land erosion.

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