Unprecedented and nerve-wracking moments during storm number 3

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep (left cover) talks about the 'tense' moments during storm No. 3 on television - Photo: VTV

The program "Towards compatriots in flood-hit areas" was broadcast live on VTV1 on the evening of September 14, with the audience looking back at the recent storm and flood, the solidarity of the entire political system and authorities at all levels, the losses of the people, the examples of sacrifice and the noble acts imbued with national love and compatriots.

After about 2 hours of launching on live television, the Tam Long Viet Fund launched by Vietnam Television to support the reconstruction of Lang Nu after storm No. 3, the program received 12.8 billion VND from television viewers.

Storm No. 3 is a historic storm.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development – ​​Storm No. 3 is a historic storm “because there are things that have never happened before” in history. “It can be said that this is a hurricane, not a storm anymore,” he said.

This is the strongest storm in terms of wind speed in the world, not only in Vietnam. Within 48 hours of landing in the East Sea, the storm increased 4 levels - to hurricane level (super typhoon).

This is the first storm with wind gusts of level 15 to make landfall in Vietnam (specifically Hai Phong and Quang Ninh).

The Deputy Minister said that normally, when a storm hits land, it moves at 15-20km/hour, but this storm stayed still in Hai Phong and Quang Ninh for more than 5 hours, not moving, causing great destruction.

“We thought the storm was over, but it continued,” he said.

Another unprecedented event was the widespread rain caused by the storm, causing a flood, equivalent to the historic flood in 1971. Many rivers in the North reached alarming levels. For example, the Thao River in Yen Bai at one point exceeded the historic flood peak of 1968 by 1.39m.

Ms. Hoang Thi Bong burst into tears when her husband was still missing under the rubble after the terrible flash flood in Lang Nu village (Lao Cai) - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

New milestone in disaster prevention

For those reasons, according to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, this storm also created a new historical milestone in natural disaster prevention work in our country.

Because the storm has many historical elements, there are many issues that need to be decided by the Government, which are unprecedented.

He gave an example of the Thac Ba Hydropower Plant. One year after its inauguration, the flood came, and the discharge into the reservoir was 3,200m3/s. But on the morning of September 10, it was up to 5,600m3/s. That is why the Thac Ba Hydropower Plant is in a "life-or-death" situation.

Faced with that situation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had to hold a meeting with relevant localities at noon to evacuate more than 10,000 people in 4 hours.

Flood in Yen Bai

The Prime Minister also ordered that in an emergency, the auxiliary dam be ready to be destroyed to save the main dam. Because if the main dam breaks and water flows down the Chay River to the Lo River, the water level in Yen Bai will increase by at least 3m. The devastation will be terrible. The government must choose whichever is less damaging.

Or another example, on the evening of September 12, the water level of the Hoang Long River rose high, if necessary, the Hoang Long River dike may have to be broken.

“When we reported the situation, the Prime Minister asked the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant to stop generating electricity to reduce flooding on the Red River and the Day River, instead of destroying the dike. It can be said that these were two of the most 'critical' situations in history,” Mr. Hiep said.

According to him, because this is a storm with many historical factors, despite our efforts, the damage is still very great.

“But without drastic instructions, who knows what will happen. This is a storm that is considered the highest level of natural disaster,” said Mr. Hiep.

Mr. Hiep said that this is the first time in history that, right during a storm or flood, the Politburo has issued a conclusion directing all levels, sectors and the political system to take action.

General Secretary and President To Lam inspects the work of consolidating and overcoming incidents at some key points on the Lo River dike, Truong Sinh commune, Son Duong district, Tuyen Quang province - Photo: VNA

General Secretary and President To Lam directly went to direct in some localities, including Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho... The Politburo and the Secretariat assigned each comrade to go to each locality to both share with the people there and give timely instructions.

The Prime Minister went directly to the eye of the storm, going to Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Lao Cai, Yen Bai... and also assigned deputy prime ministers to go to the places to directly command.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep informed that up to now, we have mobilized 450,000 officers and soldiers in the armed forces to participate in rescue work and evacuate about 150,000 people on land and more than 50,000 people living near the sea.

This is also unprecedented in history.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhung-phut-giay-can-nao-va-chua-co-tien-le-trong-bao-so-3-20240915063250721.htm