According to initial estimates, the hailstorm affected around 100 households, damaging more than 40 hectares of apricot orchards with an estimated yield loss of about 360 tonnes. It also impacted 30 hectares of plums, with an estimated output loss of around 140 tonnes.

Immediately after the disaster, leaders of the Chieng An ward People’s Committee organised inspections to assess the extent of the damage, while rolling out response measures. Youth union members, police and military forces were mobilised to assist residents in collecting and sorting affected agricultural produce, in a bid to minimise losses.

At the same time, local authorities have actively reached out to traders and candied fruit producers to purchase and process the produce, while connecting with online sales channels. They have also called on officials, civil servants, public employees and residents across the province to join hands in supporting the sale of agricultural products, helping to minimise losses and enable affected households to quickly stabilise production and their livelihoods.