Da Nang highlands urgently respond to storm No. 13

*The crack is long, threatening to break the entire East Truong Son road through Tra Doc commune. Photo: NGUYEN BINH*

Traffic is cut off

After record-breaking floods in late October and early November, many key traffic routes through the Nam Tra My highlands continue to face the risk of complete paralysis as storm No. 13 is making landfall.

National Highway 40B and Dong Truong Son Road around Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant have landslides, threatening to break and cut off traffic at any time.

*Landslide point, gouging more than half of the East Truong Son road surface, falling into the lake bed of the Song Tranh 2 hydropower dam. Photo: NGUYEN BINH*

According to Mr. Phan Duy Hung, Chairman of Tra Doc Commune People's Committee, on the Dong Truong Son road section from the Song Tranh 2 hydropower auxiliary dam to the commune, about 10km away, there were three large landslides and many deep cracks on the road surface.

Two landslides have gouged half the road, with rocks and soil falling straight into the lake bed; the remaining crack is widening, with the risk of the entire road breaking if heavy rain continues.

The long crack on National Highway 40B, towards the main dam of Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant, is covered with a tarpaulin to prevent rainwater and temporarily protect the roadway. Photo: NGUYEN BINH — *The long crack on Highway 40B, towards the main dam of Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant, was covered with a tarpaulin to prevent rainwater and temporarily protect the roadway. Photo: NGUYEN BINH*

On Highway 40B, the section passing through the main dam of the Song Tranh 2 hydroelectric plant, two large cracks have appeared, showing signs of subsidence and landslides into the lake bed. The road maintenance unit has used temporary tarps to prevent rainwater from seeping in, but the safety risk remains very high.

Currently, Song Tranh 2 hydroelectric reservoir is full of water and is being regulated to welcome floods.

The strong flow of water from upstream caused the lake surface of the main dam area to be swept away by floodwaters, carrying dry firewood, garbage, and floating objects, accumulating into large patches, covering a large area of the main dam's surface, obstructing the flow and potentially posing a risk to the safety of the project.

*The surface of the main dam of Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant is covered with firewood and trash. Photo: NGUYEN BINH*

The situation in Tra Doc commune is getting more serious when the road to the old Tra Bui commune, which is more than 30km long, has about 40 large and small landslides.

Many sections were cut off, including in the area below Nong Van Den Primary School, the concrete road surface collapsed completely, forcing local forces to open a temporary road on the slope for people and students to pass.

*Opening a temporary road on the slope for people and students to cross the fault point below Nong Van Den Primary School. Photo: NGUYEN BINH*

Emergency response to storm No. 13

On the morning of November 6, Tra Doc commune established a working group to travel by waterway in the hydroelectric reservoir to inspect and support 6 villages of the old Tra Bui commune, where about 1,500 households with nearly 7,000 people are completely isolated.

During the recent flood, Tra Doc commune evacuated 142 households (624 people) before storm No. 13, and continued to urgently evacuate 196 households (more than 700 people) from high-risk areas, striving to complete before the night of November 6.

At the same time, the communes of Tra Giap, Tra Tan, Tra Lien and Tra My simultaneously increased warnings and storm response propaganda using all available means, from social networks, loudspeakers to mobile propaganda.

Militia, police, and mass organizations were mobilized to support people in moving their belongings, securing their houses, and ensuring safety before heavy rain and strong winds hit.

*The road to village 3, Tra Giap commune was completely blocked by dozens of landslides, isolating 256 households and 988 people of the entire village. Photo: NGUYEN BINH*

In Tra Giap commune, the most severely damaged area, the road to the commune center has only been temporarily opened, while electricity is unstable and the telecommunications network is constantly down due to broken fiber optic cables.

The work of directing, operating and updating information to higher levels has encountered many obstacles. The whole commune has only been able to open 4/5 inter-village roads, while village 3 is still completely isolated with 256 households and 988 people due to dozens of large landslides that have not been able to be repaired.

According to Mr. Hoang Thanh Long, Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Tra Giap commune, right at the urgent storm prevention meeting on November 5, the Party Committee requested all heads of agencies and departments to be present at the agency on the morning of November 6, coordinate with the government to mobilize people in dangerous areas to urgently evacuate to a safe place.

The Party Secretary of the commune emphasized that it is forecasted that this evening, storms and heavy rains will directly affect the area, so cadres and party members must be on duty at the office, closely follow the area, and promptly handle all situations.

The Commune Party Committee assigned the Front and Youth Union to mobilize forces to be ready to move, coordinate with the Commune Civil Defense Command to support evacuation and rescue when requested, ensuring absolute safety for people and officials during this storm.

Due to the complicated developments of storm No. 13, many relief and volunteer groups had to postpone their journeys to the highlands to ensure safety while the lives of people in isolated areas became increasingly difficult.

The efforts of the government and local forces to "race against the storm" are being urgently deployed every hour, to ensure people's safety before the new storm hits.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/vung-cao-da-nang-khan-cap-ung-pho-bao-so-13-3309347.html