Disaster
Disaster

Disaster in Viet Nam

Disasters can be natural (e.g. typhoon or flooding) or man-made (e.g. chemical spills). Regardless of the type of disaster, there are always impacts on health.

The primary objective of the response to any disaster is to save lives and minimize disability and disease. However, the health system itself can be impacted by disasters, right when it is needed most. Hospitals and clinics can be damaged or destroyed and health workers injured or displaced. Disruptions in routine health services, such as vaccination or vector control can lead to further waves of diseases and disabilities. Besides impacts on human health, disaster can affect various aspects, including disruption of water and sanitation services, agriculture, industry, and even education.

Viet Nam is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. With a coastline stretching 3 440 km, combined with a diverse and complex topography, Viet Nam suffers from many different types of natural hazards. These are both hydrometeorological (e.g. typhoon, floods, heavy rainfalls and droughts) and geophysical (e.g. landslides). It is estimated that approximately 70% of the population who live in coastal areas and low-lying deltas in Viet Nam, are exposed to the risk of flooding.

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Major natural disasters in Viet Nam in 2016

  • The El Niño-induced drought and saline intrusion emergency had adversely impacted the lives of 2 million people, including 520 000 children and a million women with shortage of water and food and lack of humanitarian assistance. Four hundred thousand (400 000) people became at risk of drought-related diseases or infectious disease outbreaks in 18 most affected provinces. Reduced access to drinking water and water for other domestic uses exacerbated the prevalence of malnutrition and communicable diseases.
  • Severe floods due to heavy rains in five provinces (Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue) led to 15 deaths, affected 500 000 people, damaged 100 000 houses, and destroyed 10 000 ha of crops.

Major natural disasters in Viet Nam in 2017

  • Typhoon Damrey, or Storm No. 12 in 2017, with wind speed reaching 135 km/hour, hit Nha Trang (Khánh Hòa province). Heavy rainfall and floods led to economic losses and damage of VND 14 318.62 million (USD 630 500 000). More than 100 people were killed, 315 people injured, and 16 went missing.
  • The floods and landslides in northern and central Viet Nam in 2017, combined with tropical depressions, such as Doksuri in September and Khanun in October, caused heavy rainfall of up to 300-600 mm as well as floods and landslides in 13 provinces of the country. This marked the first time in over a decade for the northern and central regions to suffer from large volumes of rain in a short period of time. The flood claimed 83 lives.
  • Typhoon Doksuri, with maximum sustained winds of 135 kph (wind gust up to 185 kph), has made a landfall afternoon of Friday, 15 September 2017 in Viet Nam.The worst hit areas were Ha Tinh and Quang Binh.At least 4 deaths were recorded.

Major natural disasters in Viet Nam in 2018

  • Flash floods and landslides in the northern provinces of Viet Nam in June 2018 led to 19 deaths; 11 went missing and 12 were injured. There were 2 221 houses that were damaged, inundated or destroyed, and more than 1 203 hectares of crops perished in floods. Two hundred fifty one (251) cattle and around 6 000 livestock were also killed.
  • Tropical Storm Son Tinh, or Storm No. 3/2018 in Viet Nam caused flash floods, landslides and heavy flooding in the northern provinces of the country, mostly affecting the provinces from Thanh Hoa to Nghe An. Hoa Binh, Son La, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, and Ha Tinh were also affected.
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