Hanoi urgently stabilizes people's lives after floods

Evacuate more than 2,000 households in flooded areas to safety

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen chaired a meeting to direct response and overcoming flood consequences in Da Phuc and Trung Gia communes. *Photo: Huy Kien*

According to the report of the City Civil Defense Command, as of 10 p.m. on October 9, many damages due to floods were recorded in Da Phuc and Trung Gia communes. In Da Phuc commune, the total agricultural production area was flooded about 978 hectares, mainly rice fields, of which 547.36 hectares were in the fields and 431 hectares were in the river. There were some minor incidents in irrigation works. The water level of Cau River has decreased by 20-30 cm, but National Highway 3 is still flooded by 40-50 cm. The whole commune has 1,511 households outside the main level III dike that were flooded and had to be evacuated, of which 183 households with 6,509 people were evacuated to a safe place, the rest are high-rise buildings, the water has receded so people asked to stay.

At Trung Gia commune, at around 4:30 p.m. on October 9, a landslide occurred across the 20-meter-long Ha Thai railway through Thong Nhat, Trung Kien, and Do villages. Water overflowed the 7-km-long, 1-meter-high level IV dike (Do Tan); the 1-km-long, 1-meter-high level IV dike (Vong Am); and the 400-meter-long, 60-meter-high level III dike. The entire commune had 18 flooded and isolated villages with 4,441 households/16,417 people.

Representatives of Da Phuc commune leaders spoke at the meeting. *Photo: Huy Kien*

The communes have proactively implemented remedial measures, properly operated the drainage system, were on duty 24/24 hours, organized pumping and drainage by motor (Tan Hung 4 machines, Cam Ha II 2 machines, Tang Long 9 machines, Tien Tao 9 machines), and at the same time directed the harvest of the winter-spring rice crop. By the morning of October 10, there were still about 500 hectares that had not been harvested. The locality also put up warning signs, stretched reflective ropes, spread tarpaulins to cover the incident area, mobilized 10,600 people, 34 cars, 4 excavators, 60,000 sacks, 3,000m³ of soil, 30,000m² of tarpaulins and mechanical vehicles to respond. Along with that, coordinated with the Soc Son Irrigation Development Investment Enterprise to regulate the pumping station for drainage in the fields. By 6:00 a.m. on October 10, the water level of the Ca Lo River had decreased by another 3cm compared to 9:00 p.m. on October 9.

Ensure safety and promptly recover after floods

Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen chaired the meeting. *Photo: Huy Kien*

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen assessed that this was a major flood, however, departments, branches and localities have made great efforts to ensure the lives and property of the people at the highest level. Along with that, the Prime Minister and the city leaders have paid great attention, regularly inspected, directed and encouraged the people in responding to the incidents of landslides and flooding. In particular, the Chairman of the City People's Committee is on a business trip abroad but regularly updates information, promptly directs and assigns the leaders of the City People's Committee to inspect, encourage and have plans to support people in flooded areas.

Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen also acknowledged and commended the two communes of Da Phuc and Trung Gia for implementing steps in accordance with the city's direction, thus being proactive in responding to incidents. He reminded localities to review and take responsibility for the migration issue, absolutely not to cause human casualties and to minimize property damage to the people.

Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen suggested that after the water recedes, the two localities need to pay attention to disinfection, detoxification, and cleaning; quickly stabilize people's lives; and at the same time, make plans for people to immediately start production.

In addition, comrade Nguyen Manh Quyen requested the railway sector to urgently fix the damage in the area within 24 hours; requested Hanoi Electricity to check and ensure immediate power supply to communes after the water receded; requested Soc Son Irrigation Development Investment Enterprise to prepare enough field pumps so that when the water level stabilizes, it will pump and regulate water for production for the people. The Department of Industry and Trade has a plan to prepare relief goods for the people when necessary to ensure plan 4 on the spot. The Department of Science and Technology urgently fixes power outages at broadcasting stations so that communication can be uninterrupted...

Although the water level has receded, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen reminded the communes of Da Phuc and Trung Gia not to lose vigilance, and to assign forces to guard, monitor, and control the dikes regularly to be proactive in any unexpected situations. Departments, branches and localities need to meet to learn from experience; at the same time, develop response plans to promptly respond when similar incidents occur.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ha-noi-khan-truong-on-dinh-doi-song-nhan-dan-sau-lu-lut-719178.html