Also, 175 persons were killed or went missing during natural disasters last year, it was reported at the conference, held in a hybrid format with the participation of all 63 provinces and centrally-run cities.  

Since the beginning of this year, seven persons have died or gone missing during natural disasters, while economic loss amounted to nearly 25 billion VND. Most recently, a heatwave brought temperature to a record high in the northern province of Hoa Binh in late March.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, who heads the national steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control and the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, urged ministries, agencies and local administrations to change the mindset from passively responding to proactively preventing natural disaster. He also required investing more in forecasting work.

In addition, tasks in natural disaster prevention and control should be integrated in socio-economic development plans, the Deputy PM said.

Director of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Tran Hong Thai said the sector is working to apply new technologies and tools in forecasting work and accelerate the drafting of natural disaster risk maps.

The sector will also make use of modern communications means such as mobile phone apps and social media for forecasting and warning of natural disasters to quickly reach users. /. VNA