Landslide on Ho Chi Minh road through A Luoi

On the morning of November 15, the provincial Hydrometeorological Station issued urgent flood information on the Huong River, flood information on the Bo River and flood warnings on rivers in the province.

Accordingly, the water level at 8:00 a.m. on November 15 on the Huong River at Kim Long hydrological station reached 4.21m, 0.71m higher than alarm level 3. The Bo River at Phu Oc station was 4.38cm, 0.12m lower than alarm level 3. The O Lau River at Phong Binh station was 1.87m. The Truoi River at Truoi station was 3.07m,

It is forecasted that in the morning and afternoon of November 15, floods on rivers will continue to rise and peak. Huong River at Kim Long station will peak at 4.4m, 0.9m above BĐ3, Bo River at Phu Oc station will peak at 4.5m, equal to BĐ3, then slowly decline. Only Truoi River will continue to decline slowly.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control warns of a high risk of prolonged flooding in low-lying areas, urban areas, and landslides along the Bo, Huong, and Truoi rivers; especially in the districts and towns of Quang Dien, Huong Tra, Phu Vang, Huong Thuy, Hue City, Phu Loc, and Nam Dong.

Localities are on guard against flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas. Rapid water flow in culverts, spillways, and deep flooded roads. Flooding in riverside areas, low-lying areas, and urban areas. Landslides in construction sites. Flooding and drifting of ponds, lakes, and aquaculture cages.

People in Hue City wade through flood water

At KM H9-395, Ho Chi Minh road through Huong Nguyen commune (A Luoi district) there was a serious landslide, about 25m long, currently vehicles cannot circulate. In A Roang 2 village, A Roang commune, the flood caused the loss of 4 goats and landslides in some areas of rubber and acacia gardens and the area behind people's houses. Notably, at Huong Nguyen Border Guard Station, in the garden area near the unit's parking lot, a landslide of about 80m3 of soil appeared above the stone embankment. In addition, the Ho Chi Minh road section is currently at high risk of landslides, causing traffic congestion on the route.

Up to now, the dams in the area are still operating safely and participating in flood regulation when the rain in the upstream of Nam Dong is very heavy.

Specifically, in the morning of the same day, the Investment and Construction Management Board of Irrigation 5 ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ) said that based on the amount of water flowing into the lake, in order to participate in reducing floods downstream, Ta Trach irrigation lake announced the change of regulation from 4 gates to 3 spillway gates. The regulation started at 9:10 a.m. on November 15. The water level of Ta Trach lake at 9:00 a.m. + 46.01 m. The flow to the lake was 1,327 m3/s. Reduced by 1 more spillway gate by about 400 m3/s. The flow to the downstream was 1,300 to 1,500 m3/s.

In Huong Thuy town, many places are flooded, some about 2m deep. Localities have been mobilizing and supporting people in low-lying areas to evacuate people and property to safety.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (9 months pregnant) was taken by the shock force to a safe place to wait for delivery.

As of 9:30 a.m. on November 15, some areas in Village 2 and Village 7 of Thuy Phu Commune were flooded about 2 meters deep, while all roads in the commune were flooded from 1-1.2 meters and about 800 households had water entering their houses.

At this time, although the water was about 2m deep and flowing rapidly, the on-duty force of Thuy Phu commune (Huong Thuy town) approached and safely brought pregnant woman Nguyen Thi Phuong (village 7) to Huong Thuy town Medical Center to wait for delivery.

In Thuy Thanh commune, about 60% of the houses in the area were flooded; the roads were also deeply flooded, some sections were flooded from 0.8 to 1 meter. The commune government has mobilized people to raise flower pots (mainly chrysanthemums) to serve the Lunar New Year to avoid flooding. Currently, Thuy Thanh has 120 households growing Tet flowers, an estimated 50,000 out of 67,000 flower pots need to be raised to avoid flooding.

Many other communes and wards are also deeply flooded, such as An Thuong Cong Chua Street in Thuy Duong Ward, which is flooded over 1m deep; T6 area in Thuy Phuong Ward is being cut off due to flooding of nearly 1m deep; Loi Nong Street, Dai Giang, Alley 217 Vo Trac... in Thuy Chau Ward, some places are flooded up to 1m deep; 11 traffic routes in Thuy Tan Commune are flooded from 0.5-1m deep...

In the two hilly communes of Duong Hoa and Phu Son, traffic is currently cut off in many places due to flooding in the culverts from 0.7-1m; in the culvert of village 4 in Phu Son commune, the water is about 2m deep.

By this time, all areas with deep, fast-flowing water have been cordoned off.

“Currently, the town has reserved 50 tons of rice, 200 boxes of instant noodles, 500 liters of gasoline; wards and communes have reserved 58.5 tons of rice, 1,614 boxes of instant noodles, 1,100 liters of gasoline, 27,700 liters of drinking water; the shock force of communes and wards has supported nearly 700 people with rescue vehicles... Up to this point, in the town, there are nearly 1,000 households that need to be evacuated to a safe place", Mr. Ngo Van Vinh - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Huong Thuy Town informed.

As of 11:00 a.m. on November 15, Hue City had evacuated 355 households and 1,108 people to safe places. The largest number were in the wards of Huong So with 367 people, Phu Mau: 96 people, Phu Thanh: 83 people, Phu Thuong: 31 people...; at the same time, calling on 100% of boats to dock and anchor safely; organizing a hotline 19001075 to support people in urgent situations.

Phu Thuong Ward Police supported the evacuation of people from low-lying areas to safety.

According to initial information from the Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue Command of Hue City, up to this point, there have been no human casualties in the area. However, due to heavy rain, more than 85% of the city has been flooded with water levels from 0.5 to 1.5m (some wards and communes have not been flooded such as Thuy Bang, Truong An, An Tay, Phuoc Vinh, Thuy Xuan...); many agricultural areas have been flooded and damaged.

To ensure food for people in low-lying areas, Hue City has stockpiled flood relief goods at local food warehouses, including 6,000 boxes of instant noodles and 30 tons of rice. People's Committees of wards and communes have proactively stockpiled food to ensure adequate supply for the people.

The city directs the People's Committees of wards and communes to proactively implement the 4-on-the-spot motto, deploy measures, collect broken trees, and trees parked on the roads, and provide rescue; continue to notify owners of vehicles and captains of ships and boats (including transport ships) operating at sea about the developments of strong winds at sea to proactively prevent; notify the people about the bad weather developments to proactively prevent. The city's police and military forces coordinate with local authorities to support people in responding to emergency situations during heavy rains.

Mr. Ngo Van Duc, Chief of Office of Quang Dien District People's Committee, said that the heavy rain on the night of November 14 and the morning of November 15 caused flooding and damaged about 60 hectares of winter vegetables (damage level from 50% - 70%).

Floods may cause more than 60 hectares of winter vegetables to be lost

On the night of November 14 and 15, there was very heavy rain in Quang Dien district, causing widespread flooding.

By 10am this morning, Provincial Road 8A, Provincial Road 4, inter-commune roads, and village roads in Quang Phuoc, Quang An, Quang Thanh, and Quang Tho communes were flooded about 0.2 - 1.5m deep. Many village roads in Quang Vinh, Quang Phu communes, and Sia town were flooded about 0.2 - 1m deep.

Floods caused nearly 500 houses to be submerged 0.1 - 0.5 meters deep.

The District People's Committee has planned to evacuate nearly 800 households with 1,900 people in low-lying areas to safety.

The District People's Committee, the District Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, and communes and towns have organized inspections and directed the implementation of response tasks according to the 4-on-the-spot principle. Localities have organized warnings and barriers to prevent people and vehicles from passing through deeply flooded and rapidly flowing sections. All schools have been directed to let students stay home from this morning (November 15, 2023) according to the direction of the province.

Currently, the People's Committee of Quang Dien district directs relevant agencies and departments to continue implementing response plans and overcoming damage according to plan.

To proactively respond to the flood situation, the authorities in Huong Tra town have prepared a scenario to evacuate hundreds of households in vulnerable areas, at risk of landslides and deep flooding to safe places...

Hundreds of houses in Huong Toan commune (Huong Tra) are deeply flooded.

Due to heavy rain combined with regulation of Huong Dien and Binh Dien Hydropower Reservoirs, up to now, many roads in localities in Huong Tra are deeply flooded. Specifically, in Huong Toan commune, Huong Chu ward, Huong Van ward, Huong Van ward, Huong Xuan ward, Tu Ha ward... flooded from 0.5-2m; in which Huong Toan flooded 100% of the roads.

The water level rose rapidly, so the entire town currently has 1,065 houses flooded from 0.3 to 1.2m. Thanks to the proactive "4 on-site" motto, up to this point, localities have relocated and evacuated 67 households in vulnerable areas, with 162 people to safe places. Specifically, Huong Toan commune has 6 households, 17 people; Huong Xuan has 25 households, 45 people; Binh Thanh has 4 households, 17 people; Huong Van has 26 households, 65 people and Huong Van has 6 households, 18 people. All were relocated and evacuated to high-rise buildings and food was ensured for the evacuated people.

At this time, Huong Tra Town Police actively coordinated with localities to organize forces to help people proactively prevent floods, be ready to control traffic in flooded areas, culverts, overflows... to guide people, vehicles and traffic flow to ensure safety; strictly prohibit people and vehicles from passing through dangerous areas; organize to ensure road traffic safety through National Highway 1A, Hue City bypass through the area.

Major Ngo Anh Duc, Political Commissar of the Military Command of Huong Tra town, said that the unit is coordinating with relevant departments, agencies and local authorities to be ready to evacuate households in dangerous areas, areas at risk of flash floods and landslides along rivers and streams, low-lying areas downstream of hydroelectric reservoirs... when the flood situation continues to have new developments.

According to Dr. Le Quang Hiep, Director of Huong Tra Town Medical Center, the unit has fully deployed response plans in the flood situation, transferring seriously ill patients to higher levels to ensure safe treatment. Commune and ward health stations have fully prepared medicines, environmental treatment chemicals, emergency equipment and tools; mobilized doctors and nurses to be on duty at the unit to ensure response during floods...

According to the Phu Vang District Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Command, many roads in the district are currently flooded up to 1.5 meters deep. Nearly 200 houses are flooded up to 0.3 meters deep, concentrated in the communes of Phu Ho, Phu My, Phu Luong...

Phu Luong commune authorities and forces help people evacuate to safety

Many traffic routes in the area such as Provincial Road 3 through Phu Ho and Phu Luong communes; many inter-village roads were flooded up to 1.5 meters deep, the alley leading to people's houses was flooded up to 1.2 meters deep; Provincial Road 10 A and Provincial Road 10 C had sections flooded from 0.4 to 0.6 meters deep... Floodwater also isolated many villages and many routes, affecting the lives and activities of people in low-lying communes.

Currently, Phu Vang district leaders are focusing on implementing flood prevention work; directing low-lying areas such as Phu Luong, Phu Ho, Phu My, Phu Gia, Vinh Ha... to regularly check the flood situation, proactively mobilize forces to organize emergency evacuation of households in dangerous areas, areas at risk of deep flooding, isolation, and unsafe households. Proactively support food, arrange temporary accommodation for households that have to be evacuated, and prevent people from going hungry. People are strictly prohibited from traveling in areas with fast-flowing water and deep flooding...

While many areas are still deeply submerged in floodwater, it is forecasted that in the coming days, the province will have heavy to very heavy rain, with rainfall ranging from 150-300mm, and in some places over 500mm.

People travel by boat on the street

The water level of the Huong River at Kim Long at noon on November 15 reached +4.24, exceeding the alarm level 3 by 0.74 m and exceeding the flood peak of 2020 by 0.07 m. According to the Provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, this morning, heavy rain continued to fall over a wide area, with over 1,000 mm in Xuan Loc commune (Phu Loc district), and 989 mm in Thuong Quang commune (Nam Dong district).

This morning and afternoon, floods on rivers continue to rise and will peak. Huong River at Kim Long station peaked at 4.4m, 0.9m above alert level 3 (historic flood peak in 1999 was 5.81m); Bo River at Phu Oc station peaked at 4.5m, equal to alert level 3, then slowly receded.

Meanwhile, according to the forecast from November 15 to 17, heavy rain and very heavy rain will continue to occur in the province. The total rainfall is generally 150-300mm, with some places over 500mm. Water levels on rivers remain high above alert level 3, causing widespread flooding. Localities need to be on guard against the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.

In Hue city, almost all roads of 36 wards and communes were flooded. Roads in the North of Huong River (Van Xuan, Chi Lang, Bach Dang, Mai Thuc Loan ....) were flooded by an average of 0.4-0.6m; roads in the South of Huong River (Hung Vuong, Truong Chinh, Tran Quang Khai, Ben Nghe, Dong Da, To Huu, Le Minh, Huynh Tan Phat, Hoang Van Thu, Nguyen Huu Tho, Dang Van Ngu, Phan Anh, ...) were flooded by an average of 0.3-0.5m.

The downstream area of O Lau River through Phong Dien District was also deeply flooded. National Highway 49B (Phong Hoa to Dien Hai) was flooded in many places, the deepest level was 0.4 m (section through Phong Hoa Commune), the total length of flooded roads was more than 520m. Provincial Road 6 (Phong Dien Town to Phong Chuong) was flooded in some places, the deepest level was 0.3 m (Khuc Ly - Ba Lap spillway, Phong Thu Commune), the total length was more than 120m.

The localities of Nam Dong, Phu Loc, Phong Dien have evacuated hundreds of households to safe places. Hue City alone has evacuated 355 households and 1,108 people, calling on 100% of ships and boats to dock and anchor safely. The Hue City People's Committee has stockpiled flood relief goods at food warehouses with 6,000 boxes of instant noodles and 30 tons of rice. In addition, it has directed the People's Committees of wards and communes to implement the "4 on-site" motto, including proactively reserving food. The Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue has requested localities to strengthen supervision, inspection, and prevent people from entering the forest during natural disasters and floods. Assign forces to guard at locations at risk of floods, flash floods, landslides, and inundation.

Arrange signs and instructions to ensure safety for people and vehicles in flooded areas when floods occur. Commune police are on duty and ready to respond. Mobilize 800 officers and soldiers and necessary rescue equipment to be ready to respond when required.

As of the afternoon of November 15, many places in Hue City and other localities were still deeply flooded. In particular, the main streets were still flooded, and people traveled on the streets by boat. Along the roads, many private cars parked to avoid the flood were submerged by more than half of the car.

Vehicle owners hired cranes to move their cars to higher ground. On Pham Van Dong Street (Hue City), hundreds of private cars parked along the road from Phu Thuong Ward to Xuan Phu Ward were deeply flooded and had to be towed away. People also began to pour into the streets to buy necessities in case the flood lasted for a long time.

According to the provincial Hydrometeorological Station, since noon on November 15, there has been heavy rain, some places have very heavy rain, some places have had rainfall of 127.8mm such as Truoi, 131.2mm, Kim Long 134mm, Phong Dien 176.2mm, Co Bi 214.8mm. The soil moisture model shows that the area is nearly saturated (over 95%) or has reached saturation.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has issued a warning that in the next 6 hours, Thua Thien Hue province will continue to have moderate to heavy rain, some places will have very heavy rain with rainfall ranging from 40-80mm, some places will have over 100mm. There is a very high risk of flash floods on small rivers and streams, landslides on steep slopes, especially in Phong Dien, A Luoi, Nam Dong, Huong Tra, Huong Thuy, Phu Loc districts, Hue city and prolonged flooding in urban areas and low-lying areas.

According to initial information, at 10:30 a.m. on November 15, in Huong Vinh ward, Hue city, a boat carrying 8 people capsized at Dien Thuong-The Lai Thuong bridge.

The boat capsized accident caused 2 people (mother and daughter) to be swept away by floodwaters, 6 people were lucky to escape. Currently, the authorities have found the body of the mother, HTB (born in 1983), brought the body to the hospital and her family is coming to identify her. As for the daughter, NTH (born in 2005), who was swept away by the flood and is missing, the authorities are still searching for her.

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