Heavy rain, landslides cause 16 casualties and much damage

Provincial Road 258B was eroded, causing safety risks for people and vehicles. (Photo: Vu Hoang Giang/VNA)

According to preliminary statistics from the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) and VNA reporters in localities, from May 16 to 19 (as of 9:00 a.m. on May 19), heavy rain and landslides killed 9 people (5 in Lai Chau, 4 in Bac Kan); 7 people were injured (4 in Lai Chau, 3 in Bac Kan) along with many serious damages in localities.

In Tuyen Quang province, heavy rain damaged 23 houses in Na Hang district, causing flooding in Na Hang town; a livestock farm in Na Hang town was buried by landslides, burying 500 chickens, 100 geese and 10 pigs; 120 cubic meters of concrete on the inter-village road in Son Phu commune, Na Hang district was eroded; many roads in Na Hang town were eroded, causing many properties and items to be damaged and swept away by landslides into houses, flooding in Na Hang town. Estimated damage is over 1 billion VND.

Heavy rains have caused many houses to be flooded, eroded, swept away, and damaged (Ha Giang: 3 houses with landslides, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang: 47 houses with landslides, Bac Kan province is reviewing and making statistics); 190.05 hectares of crops were damaged (Cao Bang: 157.05 hectares, Bac Kan: 28 hectares, Ha Giang: 5 hectares); 26.33 hectares of rice were damaged (Cao Bang: 9.23 hectares, Bac Kan: 13 hectares, Ha Giang: 4.1 hectares); 700 livestock and poultry were killed or swept away (Bac Kan: 90; Tuyen Quang: 610); 7 bridges were washed away or damaged, 4 electric poles were damaged (Bac Kan); 1 school (Ha Giang) and 1 cultural house (Cao Bang) were damaged; several inter-commune roads in the provinces were eroded...

In Dien Bien province, the earthquake in Muong Cha district caused cracks in the walls of 8 houses, 4 schools, 1 medical station, and 3 offices. The estimated damage was about 1,850 million VND.

Due to the impact of the flow, the landslide located right at the sharp curve of Ong Chuong canal, on Provincial Road 946, in Long Dien B commune, Cho Moi district, An Giang province, affected 10 houses, causing damage of about 2 billion VND.

Heavy rain, combined with high tides in Bac Lieu province, caused landslides on the 30-4 canal in Chom Xoai hamlet, Nha Mat ward (near the tidal sluice), Bac Lieu city.

Immediately after the disaster, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention sent a working group led by Mr. Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Director of the Department, to Bac Kan to coordinate with the locality to direct the recovery of consequences, inspect the situation and support affected families.

The Party Committees and authorities of the affected localities visited and encouraged the families of the deceased and injured, and directed the authorities to go to the grassroots to grasp the situation, count the damage, guide and support people to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, and quickly ensure the stability of people's lives and production.

To continue to proactively respond to complex natural disasters in the coming time, the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention recommends that provinces and cities in the Northern region, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An continue to deploy measures to respond to heavy rains that may cause flooding, flash floods, and landslides; prepare on-site forces to promptly support people to overcome the consequences, especially in areas that have suffered damage due to recent heavy rains.

Particularly for Bac Kan province, urgently evacuate people from dangerous areas (after the landslide, a large amount of rocks accumulated to form a natural dam at the bridge over the stream in Phieng Kham village, currently there are two households in the danger zone); at the same time, immediately deploy measures to warn people about the dangerous situation of this temporary dam. Quickly find a solution to handle and clear the flow to prevent risks before entering the peak of the rainy and stormy season.

Provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region and Ho Chi Minh City continue to proactively respond to saltwater intrusion according to Official Dispatch No. 15/CD-TTg dated February 17, 2025 of the Prime Minister.

In particular, An Giang province needs to arrange a permanent force to monitor developments, review the affected area of ​​the landslide area at Ong Chuong canal, Long Dien B commune, Cho Moi district to continue evacuating and relocating households at high risk to safe places; research handling and remedial measures and mobilize resources for implementation.

Localities organize serious on-duty shifts and regularly report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (through the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control).

The Office of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee requests the Civil Defense, Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue Commands of the above provinces to strictly maintain on-duty regime, proactively review plans and strategies for responding to natural disasters and search and rescue; not to be passive or surprised, especially with the risk of floods, landslides, flash floods and flash floods.

At the same time, mobilize forces and means to help people to absolutely ensure their lives and limit damage to state and people's property.

The Provincial Command Committees for Civil Defense, Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue promptly advised the Provincial People's Committees to direct a thorough review of residential areas, promptly detect areas at risk of unsafety, especially areas at risk of flash floods, landslides, flash floods, and deep flooding; proactively arrange forces and means, resolutely evacuate people from dangerous areas, areas at high risk of landslides, flash floods, and flash floods to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

The Command of Civil Defense, Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of the provinces closely monitor the developments of natural disasters and floods in the area; deploy timely and effective response work according to the "4 on-site" motto, strengthen propaganda work, ensure that all people grasp information about the risks of floods, flash floods and landslides.

At the same time, organize traffic control and guidance during floods, especially when traveling through culverts, areas at risk of landslides, and areas with deep flooding.

Proactively mobilize forces and means to carry out disaster recovery work; arrange food and necessities in vulnerable areas at risk of isolation due to heavy rains, floods, landslides, and inundation to promptly carry out rescue work, and support people when situations arise.

The Office of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee also requested the Civil Defense, Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue Committee of Bac Kan province to advise the Provincial People's Committee to direct forces to urgently overcome the consequences of flash floods in Dong Phuc and Yen Duong communes, Ba Be district, to encourage and visit families with dead and injured relatives, and to quickly stabilize their lives.

The Steering Committees for Civil Defense, Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of the above provinces shall organize implementation and report the results to the Office of the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/mua-lon-sat-lo-dat-lam-16-nguoi-thuong-vong-va-nhieu-thiet-hai-702739.html