Addressing a conference on rescue work in Hanoi on May 29, Colonel Pham Van Ty, Deputy Head of the National Committee for Search and Rescue Office, said the Brunei rehearsal will help Vietnamese rescue workers improve their capacity and boost collaboration with other regional countries in dealing with natural disasters.
Vietnam has been hit by 814 natural disasters since the beginning of this year, which have killed 162 people and left 87 others missing. Hundreds of houses and transport vehicles have been destroyed and huge amounts of property have been lost.
About five or six major storms and floods are predicted to strike Vietnam in the remaining months of this year, especially in June and July.
The National Committee for Search and Rescue has urged relevant ministries, agencies and localities to map out plans to cope with such calamities, with a focus on rescue work.