Tasks range from reviewing vulnerable areas, formulating response plans under the “4 on-the-spot” principle, to proactively evacuating residents from dangerous zones. Concurrently, citizens’ awareness of self-prevention and self-protection has been steadily elevated, generating community strength in responding to natural disasters.

Điện Biên features terrain heavily dissected by high mountain ranges, deep ravines, and steep river systems. Over 80 percent of its natural area has a slope exceeding 25 degrees, with annual rainfall ranging from 1,700 to 2,200 mm, while the geology in many places remains unstable, posing high risks of landslides. These specific natural conditions cause the locality to regularly face flash floods, landslides, thunderstorms, hail, lightning, and earthquakes. During the 2020-2025 period, natural disasters claimed 49 lives, injured 48 people, and caused property damage estimated at approximately VND 2,489 billion.

To proactively respond, the provincial People’s Committee directed localities to shift strongly from a “disaster recovery” mindset to “proactive prevention,” taking the grassroots-level as the center and the people as the main subjects in natural disaster prevention and control.

In the highland villages of Sính Phình commune, landslide risks are ever-present during the rainy season. Since the beginning of the year, a natural disaster event caused by heavy rain, thunderstorms, and landslides occurred, with total damage estimated at around VND 907 million, mainly affecting housing and transport infrastructure, with no casualties reported.

To proactively prevent and control disasters, the commune government reviewed high-risk landslide spots, built response plans, and prepared forces, supplies, and vehicles for emergency rescue. When disasters occur, the Commune Civil Defense Command mobilizes military, police, and self-defense militia forces alongside local residents to participate in overcoming consequences, assisting affected households, and relocating those in dangerous zones to safe places. Dissemination and mobilization efforts to raise public awareness are stepped up, helping people remain proactive and ready to relocate when necessary.

Vũ Đức Biểu, Chairman of the Sính Phình commune People’s Committee, stated: “Facing complex developments during the rainy and flood season, the commune directed functional forces to strengthen inspections of landslide-prone spots, review vulnerable areas, and deploy response plans under the ‘4 on-the-spot’ principle, while mobilizing forces to support damage recovery to ensure safety for the people. This also serves as a crucial factor helping the locality minimize damage when natural disasters occur.”

A proactive spirit is also clearly demonstrated in Quài Tở commune. Heavy rain in early July affected 13 households due to positive slope landslides and submerged approximately 1.5 ha of seasonal rice fields. Immediately upon receiving information, the Commune People’s Committee established a working group, mobilizing police, military, and disaster response volunteer forces alongside local residents to set up guards, delineate dangerous areas, and assist in moving people and property. Landslide-affected roads were urgently cleared and opened, while high-risk spots were marked with warning signs.

What is noteworthy is that local residents are becoming increasingly proactive in disaster prevention. Moving away from a passive and reliant mindset, many households have proactively reinforced their homes, relocated property, and prepared to evacuate when requested.

Vàng A Hử’s family in Lồng village was located in an area with a high risk of landslides; thus, during the recent heavy rain, his family proactively relocated people and property to a safe place.

Vàng A Hử shared: “In the past, many people were subjectively careless, only seeking ways to respond after landslides occurred. Now, thanks to regular dissemination, people understand that proactive prevention is the best way to protect their own lives and property.”

In Nà Tấu commune, the rain and flood event on July 9 also affected 5 households, 9.5 ha of seasonal rice fields, and several inter-village roads. The Nà Tấu commune People’s Committee mobilized over 150 officers, soldiers, on-the-spot forces, and local residents to participate in overcoming consequences, clearing soil and rocks, ensuring traffic flow, and supporting affected households.

Practical experience across localities demonstrates that when grassroots-level governments proactively grasp area conditions, regularly review vulnerable points, and fully prepare forces and supplies under the “4 on-the-spot” principle, combined with heightened public awareness, natural disaster damage can be limited to the lowest level.

From the beginning of the year until July 10, the entire province experienced 22 natural disaster events affecting 42 out of 45 communes and wards, causing damage estimated at approximately VND 44.6 billion.

As the rainy and storm season has set in, unpredictable developments are anticipated. However, through the drastic involvement of authorities and the proactive, self-protective spirit of the people, local disaster prevention and control capacities across the province are being step-by-step elevated. This serves not only as an immediate solution to minimize damage but also as a long-term foundation helping Điện Biên enhance its resilience against natural disasters, safeguarding a peaceful life for the people.