The Ministry of Natural Resources recently held a video conference on national marine disaster prevention and response for the upcoming flood season, ahead of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Day, which fell on Tuesday this year.

The conference noted that due to climate change and rising sea levels, an El Nino event — a warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific — is expected to occur in 2026. The frequency of hazardous storm surges is expected to be slightly higher than usual, and typhoon-induced waves at high warning levels are more likely, making the marine disaster prevention situation during the upcoming flood season severe.

In response, the ministry called on local authorities to reinforce duty and emergency response protocols to safeguard marine safety. It emphasized a "prevention first" approach, advocating regular consultations and assessments to enhance forecasting and early warning for disasters such as storm surges and seawater intrusion.

For risk management, thorough hazard identification should be carried out, along with increased inspection and maintenance of marine observation and monitoring facilities. Comprehensive support in equipment, personnel and technology must be ensured.

The ministry also stressed the importance of improving coordinated prevention and control mechanisms by strengthening interagency collaboration and information sharing, aiming to build a united front against disasters. Moreover, public outreach, education and training on marine disaster prevention and mitigation should be widely conducted to raise awareness.

The meeting highlighted the significance of strengthening marine disaster prevention efforts at a strategic level. It called for enhanced top-level design and integrated management of marine forecasting and disaster reduction operations. Priorities include the development and optimization of "One Map" — a unified digital visualization platform — for marine disaster scenarios, along with greater resource sharing across systems and regions.

Focusing on global climate change, the conference urged efforts to strengthen defenses against seawater intrusion and sea level rise. In addition, exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened to improve technical capabilities in marine disaster prevention.