Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an official dispatch on January 23 instructing northern and north-central localities and relevant ministries to take measures to mitigate the effects of severe cold weather on human health and agricultural production.

The north and north-central region have suffered from severe cold weather over the past few days, with mountainous and highland areas encountering frost and ice, which has affected the health of people and agricultural production, according to the dispatch.

The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said this is the most intense cold spell so far in the 2023-2024 winter.

Temperatures in the northern region are forecast to fall to 3-6 degrees Celsius while many mountainous areas are predicted to experience temperatures below 0 degrees.

People’s Committees in these localities are asked to enhance communications to broadcast relevant information and provide guidance to the public on ways to ensure the health and safety of people, especially the elderly, children, and vulnerable, and to protect animals and plants.

Local authorities must keep a close watch on and regularly update weather developments, and provide timely notifications to residents, it said.