Vietnam is a disaster-prone country where such natural disasters as typhoon, flood, drought, flash flood and landslide happen frequently with most serious damages. In the past two decades, annually natural disasters in Vietnam resulted in nearly 300 deaths and missing and economic loss of 1-1.5 percent GDP averagely.
According to the National Institute of Geophysics, if earthquake happens in the fault zone in Manila, Philippines, there is a potential risk of tsunami; and in around two hours since the earthquake, tsunami waves would affect 13 Central coastal provinces and cities in Vietnam, including Quang Nam.
To proactively respond to disaster risks including tsunami, the education sector has included disaster response activities into the teaching curriculum of schools at all levels in coastal areas in the Central Vietnam.
Moreover, the government have step-by-step invested in building multi-purpose disaster warning stations (including tsunami).
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued procedures for pilot exploitation and operation of the above-mentioned guarding and warning system, including the Procedure for tsunami warning.
“Children, the country’s future owners, are the group being most vulnerable to natural disasters. They need equipping with knowledge and skills to protect themselves from natural hazards. ” said Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Vice Manager of the Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.
Junior schoolers of Thai Phien School took part in the hypothetical situation that they were informed warning of earthquake and tsunami on November 2.
At the drill, there were also representatives from the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, UNDP, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Quang Nam provincial Department of Education and Training, provincial Border Defense Forces, Red Cross, provincial Women’s Union, provincial Youth’s Union, and leaders of coastal districts.
