VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has handed over a detailed map of the areas prone to landslides and flash floods to the northern mountainous provinces to assist in minimizing losses caused by these natural disasters.

The map is part of a forecasting and warning scheme for natural disasters in the northern mountainous provinces.

Le Quoc Hung, deputy head of the institute, said more landslides and flash floods have posed an increasing  threat to communities due to climate change but Vietnam has not had a comprehensive study on natural disaster forecasting and warning.

Two years ago, the Government approved the scheme and tasked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to survey and zone the areas in the mountainous regions prone to landslides and flash floods.

So far, the institute has completed the 1:50,000-scale map of the locations prone to landslides in the mountainous region comprising of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.

The institute has proposed conducting detailed surveys in preparation for making maps of 1:25,000 and 1:10,000 scales in main landslide-hit areas in the region in the second stage of the scheme.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said the scheme helps relevant agencies to forecast and warn of landslides in Vietnam’s mountainous areas during the rainy and storm seasons.

SGT/VNN