The Viet Nam Railway Rescue and Natural Disaster Response Centre officially opened in the capital city yesterday.
HA NOI -
The centre will handle any problems related to rail transport and work on preventing railway accidents, said deputy minister of Transport Le Manh Hung.
Hung said the new centre would also be in charge of co-ordinating responses to storms and floods across the nation.
He said that Viet Nam was especially prone to the impacts of climate change, including increased flooding, so the centre's establishment was necessary and appropriate.
Hung added that the centre would closely co-operate with other offices, especially with the national rescue centre, to deal with any issues related to railways.
The centre is under the control of the Vietnam Railways and is also expected to help lower the number of railway accidents across the nation.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, there were 228 railway accidents in Viet Nam this year, resulting in 116 deaths, while 153 others were injured. - VNS