Attending the meeting were Deputy Chairman Tran Quang Hoai, 05 members of the Steering Committee from Government Office, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Transport, and representatives of Steering Committee of 10 central ministries and news agencies. On the local side, there were leaders of the provincial People's Committee, the leaders of the Steering Committee of 16 coastal provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Binh Thuan and 05 provinces in the Central Highlands.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Tran Quang Hoai, Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee, said that the tropical depression formed in the East Sea of ​​the Philippines on July 28, 2020, moving mainly from the Northwestern direction to the East Sea and on the morning of 31 July 2020 has become a tropical depression with wind intensity level 6-7 and gust level 9. The strong wind was recorded at some points at 7:00 am on August 1 in the Gulf of Tonkin Gulf region is at level 6, gust level 8. At present 1,642 ships/8,968 workers are still in dangerous areas; 319 irrigation reservoirs and 221 key locations of important dykes of grade III to special grade need special attention in rainy season. Besides, on the morning of 27 July, there was an earthquake with magnitude of 5.3 Richter (disaster risk level 4 in Son La) and from then to August 1, 19 aftershocks happened with a intensity of 2.5-4.0 Richter level. If heavy rains or floods occur, the reservoir will be full of water and lead to dangerous situations.

Mr. Tran Quang Hoai Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee emphasized some issues that need special attention

At the meeting, assessing the developments of tropical depression, Mr. Mai Van Khiem - Director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said: Tropical depression is likely to become Typhoon with the strongest wind intensity possible of level 8 and gust level 10. The forecast for landfall time is from morning to evening on August 2 in the southern delta region and Thanh Hoa with wind intensity level 7-8, gust level 9-10.

Due to the influence of tropical depression, the provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam have rain from 80-150mm/period; Provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri rain: 200-400mm/period; Northern rain: 200-350mm/period concentrated in the plains and coastal; Central Highlands and Southern Vietnam: 100-150mm/period, North Central Highlands 150-250mm/period.

High risk of flash floods and landslides in the mountainous provinces of the North, from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri and the Central Highlands, especially in the provinces of Son La, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai and Phu Tho, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An Quang Binh, Kon Tum, Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Lam Dong and local flooding in urban areas.

Mr. Mai Van Khiem - Director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting identified the situation of tropical depression

Reported at the meeting, localities have actively prepared measures to cope with the developments of tropical depression and floods: Issue the Official Telegraph to direct local authorities at all levels, organize tally and update the situation, guide owners of boats and ships in the area seek shelters, ready for evacuation of people in coastal areas and areas at risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, strengthening communication to the people in the area, reviewing key counterfeit works.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong - Standing Deputy Chairman of the Central Steering Committee stated that if tropical depression strengthens into typhoon, this would be the first storm to hit the mainland directly through the Northern Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin - an area with many fishing vessels and cruise ships operating along with heavy rain, some areas with very heavy rain such as the area from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri with rain of over 500mm/ period, the area The North over 400mm/period, the North Central Highlands region over 350mm/period. These are areas with many important focal points for dikes and dams. Therefore, measures and coping solutions must be drastically implemented.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister - Head of the Central Steering Committee - Mr. Trinh Dinh Dung asked the ministries and localities to concentrate and urgently deploy measures to cope with tropical depression, possibly becoming typhoon at high tide, capable of causing large-scale floods and rain in the context of complicated Covid-19 epidemic. In particular, focus on some of the following tasks:

For sea:

• Urgently guide 1,642 ships out of dangerous area to safe places; guide ships to safely anchor, pay attention to transport ships, coastal tourist ships and current ships; To ensure safety for tourists, especially on islands and coastal areas.
• Review, control and take measures to protect cages for aquaculture.

For land:

• Continue to inspect and review residential areas along rivers, streams, downstream of lakes, dams, low-lying areas at risk of flooding when heavy rains, high-risk areas affected by flash floods, landslide; detect and handle obstacles that obstruct the flow to reduce the risk of local flooding, pipe floods, flash floods when heavy rains; actively organize relocation and evacuate people to safe places.
• Check and review key dike locations, unsafe reservoirs, especially small and damaged reservoirs, under construction. Resolutely not to fill the reservoirs with unsafe water; arrange forces, supplies, machinery and equipment to be ready for troubleshooting.
• Check and review the mines, exploitation areas, dump sites, especially locations near residential areas, to prevent floods and flashfloods causing collapses and landslides.
• Control traffic routes through underground spills, deep flooded areas and fast flowing water; sending guards and instructions to ensure safety for people and vehicles passing by; Absolutely not to allow people to salvage firewood on rivers and streams when there are floods.
  
• Protect people's houses, offices, industrial parks, etc., to take measures to cope with local inundation in urban areas where there is a possibility of great economic losses.
• Organize the enhancement of communication on the mass media and social networks so that people can promptly grasp the situation, proactively prevent and minimize damage.

The ministries and localities closely monitored the developments of tropical depression and rain, actively and drastically implement measures to respond according to the "four on the spot" motto.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung - Head of the Central Steering Committee directed ministries and localities