Hanoi Capital Command increases forces and means to help people in flood-affected areas

Officers and soldiers of Engineer Battalion 544 prepare sandbags to reinforce the dike. Photo: Pham Luan

Accordingly, the 544th Engineer Battalion mobilized 30 officers and soldiers along with equipment for natural disaster prevention, rescue and relief, and quickly mobilized; closely coordinated with the Defense Command of Area 1 - Soc Son and the forces of Quang Minh commune to build sandbags, raise the dike surface to 60m, 50cm wide with a length of more than 300m to prevent and overcome water overflowing the dike, protecting people's lives and property. With the spirit of urgency "fighting floods like fighting the enemy" and careful preparation in all aspects, the unit completed the construction and reinforcement of the dike.

The dike in Quang Minh commune has been reinforced. Photo: Pham Luan

Lieutenant Colonel Do Van Hai, Political Commissar of the 544th Engineer Battalion, said that in the face of rising floodwaters that could pose a risk to local safety, the unit is proactive in its efforts to coordinate with other forces when natural disasters and storms occur; quickly arrive at affected areas to help people overcome the consequences and stabilize their lives.

In Thu Lam commune, more than 300 officers, soldiers and people participated in preventing the Kim Tien dike from overflowing, Thu Lam commune, due to the water level of Ca Lo river flowing through the area rising 8.55 m - exceeding alarm level 3, causing direct pressure on the Kim Tien dike, which is a vulnerable area.

Faced with the critical situation, the Commune Civil Defense Command quickly activated an emergency plan, mobilizing maximum forces to protect people's lives and property. Notably, on the afternoon of October 7, when detecting water overflow and signs of landslides at some low points on the Kim Tien dike, the Commune Civil Defense Command mobilized local forces, militia, youth union members and requested Regiment 236 (Division 361, Air Defense - Air Force) to mobilize hundreds of officers and soldiers, along with 2 excavators, 3 trucks to the key points to participate in dike protection, reinforce key points, build additional embankments and deploy emergency measures to prevent water from overflowing into residential areas. With a spirit of urgency, working without rest, the forces built more than 500 m of dike with soil bags and concrete, with an average height of 70 cm.

However, as the water level of the Ca Lo River continued to rise, to ensure absolute safety for people in areas at high risk of flooding, on the night of October 7 and October 8, the Commune Civil Defense Command mobilized military forces, police, militia, and local officials to evacuate 550 people from Kim Tien village (mainly the elderly, women, and children) to safe gathering points, including: Xuan Non kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools; Training Center of the Defense Command of Area 1 - Soc Son (Xuan Non area).

At the evacuation points, the Thu Lam Commune Logistics Team promptly prepared enough food, drinking water, milk, cakes, blankets, and medicine to ensure essential living conditions for the people. Medical forces, youth unions, and women's associations were always on duty to take care of people's health, support, encourage their spirits, and guide them to find temporary places to eat and stay. Along with that, the forces also supported people to move their assets and livestock to higher places to prevent flooding.

At the gathering place, Mr. Nguyen Van But, Kim Tien village emotionally shared: “We, the people, do not know what else to say, but we would like to thank the Army, Police, and militia forces… who braved the rain to protect the dike and helped move people to safety. Without your support, we, the people, would not know what to do.”

The Capital Command mobilized forces and vehicles to participate in the mission. Photo: Anh Dung

Not only being present in time to support vulnerable areas, the Hanoi Capital Command also increased forces and means to help people in flooded areas of Thai Nguyen province.

Accordingly, on October 9, the Hanoi Capital Command mobilized forces of Regiment 692 and Transport Battalion 25 (Infantry Division 301) along with equipment and mobile vehicles to carry out the task of overcoming the consequences of flooding caused by storm Matmo in Thai Nguyen province.

The mobile force participating in the recovery includes: 21 officers and soldiers; 5 military vehicles and 10 motorboats. In the flooded areas of Phu Binh commune, the forces of Regiment 692 and Transport Battalion 25 coordinated with the Military Command of Trung Thanh ward (Thai Nguyen province) to organize the distribution of necessities, dry food, instant noodles, drinking water to people isolated by floods, and at the same time transported people to safe areas.

The work of officers and soldiers of the 301st Infantry Division demonstrates the spirit of peacetime soldiers who do not fear hardship and toil to help people overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/bo-tu-lenh-thu-do-ha-noi-tang-cuong-luc-luong-phuong-tien-giup-nhan-dan-vung-lu-719159.html