Assessment of Natural Disasters in Vietnam’s Northern Mountains

This study presents risk assessment of natural disasters in the poor provinces in Northern Mountain of Vietnam. We construct an Aggregate Risk Index that is a composite index comprising of three separate components: the Hazard Potential Index, Hazard Exposure Index and Coping Capacity Index. Using this index, we can rank the natural risk level of communes and districts in Northern Mountains. In addition, using qualitative method, we find that extreme and prolonged cold, drought, storm, and flash flood are seen as the most common extreme weather events that have threatened public infrastructure, household properties and especially agricultural production in particular. Among the most common extreme weather events, extreme and prolonged cold is seen as the most damaging event to for rice, other food crops, and husbandry activities since extreme and prolong cold directly affects productivity of main crops and usually causes deathly diseases in animals. Landslide caused by heavy rain, flood and flash flood results in severe damages to local infrastructure, especially traffic roads and irrigation systems located by near high mountains, hills or rivers, ponds and streams.