Photo: ketoantruong.com.vn

Authorities in the central region have built shelters ahead of the storm season that begins in August, with local residents in many places contributing money and labour to build them.

Nguyen Van Thien, chairman of the Binh Son district People’s Committee in Quang Ngai province, said 20 mini brick shelters have been built in An Cuong village with residents’ support. Each measures four square metres.

The province plans to seek financial support from the Government to build more shelters this year, Thien added. Ngu Hanh Son and Lien Chieu districts are the most vulnerable areas in Da Nang.

Tran Van Te, People’s Committee chairman of Lien Chieu district’s Hoa Hiep Bac ward, said every year around 1,000 families living in the ward take refuge at a border guard post and schools when threatened by storms and floods. Annual property damage is estimated at billions of VND.

Last year, 800 million VND was used from the city budget to build a 250 sq.m storm shelter that can accommodate up to 300 people.

Nguyen Duc, vice chairman of Ngu Hanh Son district’s Hoa Quy ward People’s Committee, said two shelters have been built and ready for use in the ward. One of them consists of two storeys and can accommodate up to 200 people.

Huynh Van Thang, deputy director of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the city plans to build many more shelters this year.

The region’s Natural Disaster Support Fund has provided 1 billion VND to Phong Nam village in the city’s Hoa Vang district to build one. The shelter is likely to be completed in late July.

The fund will also provide 1.2 billion VND (67,796 USD) to renovate six classrooms in Quang Tri province and a shelter in Quang Ngai province, all to be used in case of storms.

Source: VNA