Khanh Hoa: Knocking on every door to call people to evacuate

Authorities mobilized people of Xom Nui to move to a safe place. By: HIEU GIANG

People in Xom Nui area, Nam Nha Trang ward reinforce their houses before storm No. 13 makes landfall.

At 8:00 a.m. on November 6, in the pouring rain caused by storm No. 13 (Kalmaegi), Ms. Nguyen Hoai Thuong (Xom Nui residential area) hurriedly packed up her belongings and brought necessities to leave the area at risk of landslides.

Seven years ago, Ms. Thuong’s husband was one of those swept away by floodwaters, and was lucky to escape the horrific landslide in Xom Nui. That disaster killed 11 people, injured many others, and damaged or completely collapsed dozens of houses, becoming a haunting memory for local residents.

Ms. Nguyen Hoai Thuong prepared all necessities to move to a safe place.

Bringing some vegetables, instant noodles, pork and bread, Ms. Thuong and her husband, along with their nearly 12-month-old child, took refuge at a relative’s house in a safe place. Last night, four other family members also evacuated following the government’s advice.

Ms. Ngo Thi Ty was assisted by authorities to move to a safe place.

About 300 meters away, Ms. Ngo Thi Ty (80 years old) was helped by the authorities to the Thanh Phat - Thanh Dat Joint Cultural House, located on Ton Duc Thang Street (Nam Nha Trang Ward).

Xom Nui households live in houses with their backs to the mountains, with the fear of landslides.

She is one of the households that suffered heavy damage due to storms and floods; her house's roof was blown off several times, and its walls were collapsed by rocks and soil, but luckily she was able to evacuate in time. "I am old and weak, alone, but the staff cares for me and looks after me. Living here, I have neighbors, so I can sleep peacefully and not worry about landslides anymore," said Ms. Ngo Thi Ty.

Forces mobilized people in Xom Nui area to evacuate, morning of November 6

Joining the working group, Senior Lieutenant Chu Duc Tai, Head of Hon Ro Border Station, said that the forces of the units are coordinating to propagate to households in the Xom Nui area about the risk of landslides and storms; mobilizing people to move to safe areas during the storm. According to the plan, all safe evacuation work will be completed on the morning of November 6.

Since the evening of November 5, authorities have been assisting people to move from the dangerous area to safety. Some elderly people and children have been taken to the Hon Ro Border Guard Station, schools, and cultural houses in the area.

An abandoned house, damaged after a landslide in 2018. According to neighbors, the homeowner later moved to the South to live with relatives.

By 10:00 a.m. on November 6, the ward had evacuated more than 200 households (about 700 people) in Xom Nui and Xom Mui to safety.

Xom Nui residents temporarily take shelter at the cultural house waiting for the storm to pass.

Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Nha Trang Ward, said that the provision of food for evacuated households has been carefully prepared, ensuring that people do not suffer from shortages during the storm. Xom Nui and Xom Mui areas are two densely populated residential areas with complex terrain and high risk of landslides in the ward. The locality is continuing to count the number of evacuated households and arrange forces to be on duty at the scene, ready to support when the weather worsens.