Disaster alert and watch system to be built in 13 coastal locales Saturday, 2016-10-08 12:00:02

Natural disaster alert and watch systems with 532 stations will be built in thirteen coastal provinces and cities from Ha Tinh to Ba Ria–Vung Tau, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Illustrative image: Huu Chi

At a conference in Khanh Hoa Province on the construction of the system, Hoang Van Thang, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said natural disasters had become increasingly complicated due to climate change and economic development, necessitating the construction of a multifunctional disaster alert and watch system to improve the authorities’ capacity to forecast natural disasters and propagate the news widely.

The construction of the system will be divided into two stages. The first stage, from now to 2020, will see the construction of 281 stations in Da Nang and the provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan at a cost of VND200 billion (US$8.9 million).

More stations will be built in the remaining locales after 2020, and the capital for the system’s construction will be sourced from the State budget and from society.

Representatives of coastal provinces have said the disaster alert and watch system would yield many benefits, but that it should suit the reality of each locale.

(Source: NDO)