On the night of 20/11, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent an urgent dispatch to Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Lam Dong, instructing them to mobilize all forces, vehicles, and methods from every direction to immediately reach isolated and deeply flooded residential areas to rescue people. "Absolutely no situation must occur where residents are trapped in their homes or on rooftops, calling for help but not receiving timely assistance," the government leader emphasized.

The prime minister directed local authorities to urgently provide food, drinking water, and essential supplies to flood-affected areas. He also called for the mobilization of youth and women's groups to cook and distribute meals to every household. Residents are to be evacuated to safe locations, with police and military headquarters prepared to open their doors as temporary shelters.

Agencies must visit, encourage, and provide the best possible support policies for families who have lost loved ones, have missing members, or whose homes have collapsed, been damaged, or swept away. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security are tasked with mobilizing maximum forces and vehicles for search and rescue operations, as well as organizing logistics and transporting essential goods.

Officials assist residents through a flooded area in Tay Nha Trang ward, on 20/11. Photo: Bui Toan

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Industry and Trade are responsible for guiding reservoir operations to reduce flood discharge downstream. The Ministry of Health is to supply medicines and environmental sanitation chemicals to the affected provinces.

The government leader appealed to people nationwide to uphold the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance, supporting fellow citizens in disaster-stricken areas. The call was for everyone to contribute what they can, whether labor or resources.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long is assigned to inspect and urge the remediation of flood damage in Gia Lai. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc is responsible for Dak Lak, and Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung oversees Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong.

This morning, the prime minister decided to provide emergency aid of 700 billion VND to the four provinces for flood recovery. Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong will each receive 200 billion VND, while Gia Lai and Dak Lak will each receive 150 billion VND.

Last night, from Algeria, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an urgent online meeting with ministries, sectors, and local authorities at home. He stressed that the most important task at this moment is to save lives and protect the health of the people.

Since 16/11, the area from Gia Lai to Khanh Hoa has experienced heavy rainfall, with many places recording over 1,700 mm. Flood levels on the Ba river, Ky Lo river in Dak Lak, and Dinh Ninh Hoa river in Khanh Hoa have peaked, exceeding historical levels by 0,2 to 1,1 m.

As of 8 p.m. last night, the country reported 41 deaths and 9 missing people. One hundred sixty-seven homes were damaged, and over 51,100 homes were flooded. Many wards and communes in Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak experienced widespread inundation.

Thirteen thousand twenty-six hectares of rice and crops were damaged, 2,183 hectares of perennial crops were destroyed, and 30,731 livestock and poultry died or were swept away. Eighty-eight hectares of lobster farms were also affected. Over one million customers experienced power outages, with power now restored for more than 457,000 customers.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on a working trip from 16/11 to 24/11. This includes official visits to Kuwait and Algeria, attending the G20 summit, and engaging in bilateral activities in South Africa. The trip is at the invitation of Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al Sabah, Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Vu Tuan