Regional drill on health response to disasters takes place in Danang

More than 200 members of emergency medical teams from 10 ASEAN countries and Japan joined a regional collaboration drill under the ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management (ARCH) project in Danang city since March 26 to 28.

The event, jointly held by the Da Nang municipal People’s Committee, JICA and Thailand’s National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM), is part of a project on strengthening ASEAN’s regional capacity on disaster health management. 

More than 200 members of emergency medical teams joined the drill under the ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management project in Danang city.
More than 200 members of emergency medical teams joined the drill under the ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management project in Danang city.

Vietnam and nine other ASEAN states have proactively joined in the project since 2015, with the aim of enhancing the cooperation mechanism on health in disaster response across the region.

The drill challenged participants to respond to a ‘super typhoon’ with wind speeds of 200km per hour sweeping central provinces from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai, killing 500 people and wounding 800 others. In the training scenario, dozens of living quarters were isolated and nearly 10,000 victims were taken to hospitals.

ASEAN countries then responded to a call for help from Vietnam through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) and emergency medical teams (EMT) were sent to disaster-hit areas in Vietnam with air cargo containing logistics and medical equipment.

Delegates at the drill's opening ceremony.
Delegates at the drill's opening ceremony.

Speaking at the opening of the drill, Deputy Minister of Health Pham Le Tuan said that Vietnam stands ready to cooperate with the other ASEAN member states in medical response to natural calamities in the region.

 Participating in international drills will enable Vietnamese medical management agencies to improve their professional capacity in case of natural disasters, he added.

It’s the second time that Vietnam has hosted the drill with the aim of strengthening joint actions with regional countries in dealing with disaster.

By Phung Nguyen

Other News

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

The International Day of Older Persons 2026, themed “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” highlights the need to develop healthcare, social security, labour-market and social-service systems in response to increasing life expectancy. For Vietnam, rapid population ageing is not only a demographic issue but also a development challenge.

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Both sides agreed to keep educating officials, Party members, youth union groups and the broader public, especially young people in both provinces, on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

The captain discovered water entering ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side, causing the vessel to list slightly. Initial assessments indicated that the vessel may have struck an underwater rock formation while underway.

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright is entering an entirely new phase. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating text, summarising books, mimicking writing styles and producing content at enormous speed, ensuring copyright protection is becoming more difficult.

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh city's Public Security Department warned individuals, agencies and businesses not to publicly disclose or provide personal information or bank account details on social media, and urged organisations and businesses to strictly comply with regulations on protecting customers’ personal data.

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

The continued recovery of martyrs’ remains provides valuable information and further evidence of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. It also encourages search teams to persist in locating fallen soldiers still lying on former battlefields, contributing to the effective implementation of the 500-day campaign and reflecting Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude.

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam will launch nationwide screening for five groups of school-related diseases and health conditions among students from preschool through high school from 2028, including overweight and obesity, refractive errors, spinal curvature, oral diseases and mental health disorders.