In the context of increasing extreme weather events, storm prevention efforts should not only focus on responding when disasters occur but must also be prepared for in advance and proactively.
In Da Nang, pruning, bracing, and safety inspections of urban trees are being implemented synchronously to reduce the risk of trees falling, ensuring safety for people and infrastructure during the rainy and stormy season.
Many items were completed ahead of schedule.
In accordance with Plan No. 174/KH-UBND dated June 28, 2025, of the Da Nang City People's Committee and the direction of the Department of Construction, the Da Nang Parks and Greenery Company has conducted a review, reinforcement, and pruning of trees in roads, parks, and residential areas at high risk during major storms. The work focuses on roads with a width of 7.5 meters or more and the landscape greenery system managed by the company.
Notably, many construction teams, such as the Hai Chau Greenery Team, the March 29th Park, the East Sea Park, and the Nursery, completed their work ahead of schedule.
In addition to the approved list, the company also proactively carried out supplementary pruning on 8 roads with wide tree canopies, high traffic volume, and potential risks during storms, including: Tran Thanh Tong, Trinh Cong Son, Ngo Tat To, Huynh Tan Phat, Nguyen Son Tra, Nguyen Phi Khanh, Nam Tran, and Ha Khe.
Specifically, from July 1st to August 22nd, 2025, the unit propped up 3,007 trees at risk of falling. Pruning work started in early August and was completed on October 10th, 2025, with 46,659 out of 46,701 trees pruned, achieving 99.9% of the plan.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Diem, Director of the Da Nang Parks and Greenery Company, said: “Early and targeted pruning helps the city proactively prepare for strong storms. Although it may temporarily reduce shade, safety for the community and urban infrastructure is always the top priority.”
In parallel, regular health checks of trees (trunk, roots, pests and diseases, tilt) are carried out to develop long-term solutions, aiming for a sustainable urban green space system.
Community support
Observations along many roads in late September easily revealed scenes of workers wearing safety harnesses working at heights amidst the deafening sound of chainsaws at midday, while other members below directed traffic and controlled the direction of falling tree branches to avoid damaging power lines and vehicles.
Nguyen Van Hung, a worker in the Hai Chau Greenery Team, shared: "Just a slight misstep and a branch could fall onto power lines or moving vehicles, so every operation must be carefully calculated."
According to Mr. Hung, common difficulties include avoiding peak hours for construction, requiring more extensive pruning of wide tree canopies, and many branches entangled with high-voltage power lines, necessitating absolute precision in the work. Furthermore, unpredictable weather conditions, including sun and rain, also affect the progress. Initially, some residents worried that the heavy pruning might damage the landscape. However, after being clearly explained the risk of trees breaking or falling during storms, most agreed and even assisted the construction teams in clearing away branches and leaves after pruning.
Mr. Dang Ngoc Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Hoa Khanh Ward People's Committee, said that during the implementation process, the local government received great support from the people.
“The people understand the importance of tree trimming in ensuring safety during the rainy and stormy season, so they have actively cooperated. Many households not only facilitated access to the construction site for the workers but also proactively cleaned up the area in front of their houses and helped collect branches and leaves after trimming. This cooperation helped shorten the implementation time, ensuring both safety and preserving the urban landscape,” Mr. Tuan said.
According to representatives from the Da Nang Department of Construction, the implementation work has taken place under complex weather conditions, with personnel dispersed across various storm prevention and control tasks. Nevertheless, the construction unit has maintained the planned schedule and strictly adhered to technical requirements in each stage of pruning, inspecting, and handling trees at risk of falling.
"Despite facing many difficulties, the forces have strived to adhere to the plan, proactively and flexibly handling situations and coordinating effectively with local authorities, contributing to improving urban safety during the rainy and stormy season," said Mr. Nguyen Ha Nam, Director of the Department of Construction.
The completion of almost all tree pruning, bracing, and safety inspections before the storm season demonstrates the proactive, responsible, and collaborative efforts of the government, management units, and the people. This is not just a technical task, but a solution to prevent risks and protect the lives and property of the community.
"We view each tree as a part of the living city. Good preparation from the start is the foundation for people to feel secure when a storm comes," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Diem.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/chu-dong-phong-chong-bao-tu-som-3309400.html
