On August 4, in Viet Hong commune, the working delegation of the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense worked with the People's Committee of Lao Cai province on disaster prevention and control and search and rescue in 2026.
According to a report by the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Lao Cai province has consolidated the Provincial Civil Defense Command and 99/99 communes and wards; fully issued operating regulations and response plans according to each level of natural disaster risk, maintained the command duty regime and coordination mechanism between forces.
The locality currently has the capacity to mobilize more than 105,000 people and 75,345 vehicles and equipment to serve disaster prevention and control and search and rescue according to the "4 on-the-spot" motto.
To date, the whole province has reviewed 3,428 points at risk of natural disasters, developed evacuation plans for people, and ensured logistics, healthcare and security in key areas.
Localities have compiled a list of households in need of relocation, identified evacuation routes, gathering points and support forces, and resolutely relocated people when unsafe risks arise.
The disaster monitoring and warning system is also strengthened with 199 automatic rain gauge stations, 3 integrated weather stations, 1 automatic water level monitoring station and 6 early landslide warning systems.
However, the province still faces many difficulties when the number of points at risk of flash floods and landslides is still large, while specialized rescue equipment and investment resources are still limited.
According to statistics, from 2024 to now, Lao Cai has experienced 68 natural disasters, killing and missing 230 people, injuring 189 people, affecting more than 70,600 houses, nearly 28,850 hectares of crops and hundreds of thousands of livestock; total economic damage is estimated at over 16,401 billion VND.
From the beginning of 2026 to now, the province has recorded 22 natural disasters, causing 1 death, 15 injuries, nearly 8,000 houses affected, and damage of about 242 billion VND.
At the working session, members of the working delegation requested Lao Cai province to continue to review and update disaster prevention and control plans close to reality; strengthen drills, raise people's awareness and proactively prepare forces and vehicles to minimize damage.
Mr. Pham Duc Luan - Director of the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (Head of the delegation) said that Lao Cai is still one of the key disaster areas of the Northern region.
According to Mr. Luan, after implementing the two-level local government model with 99 communes, the requirement is that the commune level must truly become the core force, capable of handling situations right from the grassroots level.
It is necessary to strongly shift thinking from passive response to proactive disaster risk management; fully prepare plans, human resources, and materials before natural disasters occur, and not wait until an incident occurs to deploy handling," Mr. Luan emphasized.
