Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked ministries and localities to keep a close watch on weather developments and take measures to deal with the consequences of downpours, whirlwinds, lightning and hail.

A house in the northern mountainous province of Son La is collapsed
by downpours and whirlwinds. (Photo: VNA)

The PM called on relevant workers to be on standby to help families affected by natural disasters repair their houses, while local authorities need to be on hand to provide basic necessities.

Communication efforts should be stepped up to equip residents with the skills needed to respond to natural disasters, like reinforcing roofs, early harvests, and shielding crops and animals.

He asked the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to instruct localities in this regard and report back for consideration.

Since the beginning of this year, natural calamities like downpours, whirlwinds and hail have battered many mountainous localities in the north and south-central regions, killing eight people and destroying 40,000 houses and 30,000 hectares of crops.