452 Lao Cai residents escaped life-threatening danger thanks to timely evacuation before the flood

111 households, with 452 people, in 15 communes and wards of Lao Cai, after being evacuated from 30 minutes to 20 hours, were hit by landslides, flash floods, burying and sweeping away the houses of these households. Thus, thanks to the proactive and decisive work of mobilizing and resolutely forcing people to evacuate from dangerous places, huge human losses were avoided. This is a valuable experience in natural disaster prevention work in Lao Cai, in which the People's Public Security force plays a very important role.

Việt Nam•11/10/2025

Van Ban Commune Police assisted people in moving to safety. Photo: Quynh Trang.

Van Ban Commune Police help people tie rice to prevent flooding and spillage. Photo: Quynh Trang.

From the peak of the rainy season until now, especially during the impacts of storms No. 9, 10 and 11, Lao Cai Provincial Police have mobilized 20,014 officers and soldiers from professional departments and commune police to directly support people in responding to and overcoming the consequences of floods.

Specifically, the provincial police force, especially the commune-level police, played a key role in coordinating with local Party committees, authorities and other forces to support the evacuation of 11,232 households with 51,026 people out of flooded areas, contributing to minimizing human and property losses in natural disasters. Along with that, the police force also conducted screening, coordinated support in evacuating and relocating 10,333 households with 40,271 people in 81 communes and wards in dangerous areas, at risk of landslides, flash floods and flash floods to safe places.

Commune police support people to make sandbags to prevent floods. Photo: Quynh Trang.

In particular, among the households mobilized and supported for relocation, there were 111 households, with 452 people in 15 communes and wards, after being evacuated from 30 minutes to 20 hours, landslides, flash floods occurred, burying and sweeping away the houses of these households. Thus, thanks to the proactive and drastic work of mobilizing and organizing the relocation, the safety of the lives of 452 people was ensured from the risk of life and death.

Coc Lau Commune Police patrol key locations to find solutions to respond to natural disasters.

The provincial police have also joined forces with the military, functional agencies, Party committees and commune-level authorities to proactively provide vehicles and machinery to participate in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters; coordinated with the Department of Construction to mobilize basic construction units and enterprises, mechanical services, telecommunications and electricity enterprises to ensure stable power sources and telephone signals to serve the command work of responding to natural disasters, and rescuing and saving people.

**Officers and soldiers of Lao Cai Provincial Police wade through mud to search and rescue. Photo: Huu Duc.**

After the flood, the units of the Provincial Police Department coordinated to basically fix 5,000 landslides. By October 10, 100% of the roads that were buried by landslides and rocks were cleared. In addition, the unit directed the dispatch of personnel to clean up 15/15 medical facilities, 65 schools; and supported the cleaning of hundreds of rural roads and thousands of households affected by natural disasters.