Localities proactively respond to heavy rain, flooding and landslides

According to the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Vietnam News Agency reporters in localities, floods from November 13-16 caused a lot of damage in localities.

As of noon on November 16, heavy rain, storms, floods, and inundation have killed two people and left three missing (Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue); 17,877 houses were flooded (Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai). Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces are still flooded from 0.3-0.6m.

The floods damaged 34 houses, including roofs (Ha Tinh, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai); 122 hectares of fruit trees and crops (Quang Tri, Da Nang) and 50,000 forestry seedlings, 5,000 chrysanthemum seedlings, 1,100 livestock and poultry, and 2 hectares of aquaculture (Quang Tri).

Prolonged heavy rain in Quang Ngai province caused serious landslides on Violak Pass through the commune, cutting off traffic on National Highway 24 from Quang Ngai to Kon Tum.

The landslide on Violak Pass caused rocks and soil from the pass to collapse and bury the surface of National Highway 24 at two locations, Km 63+350 and Km 64+400, through Lang Trui village, Ba Tieu commune. Along with the landslide on National Highway 24 through Ba Tieu commune, many large and long cracks appeared on the surface of National Highway 24 in the area bordering Quang Ngai and Kon Tum.

To ensure traffic safety in the area, the People's Committee of Ba Tieu commune mobilized forces to set up checkpoints near the landslide and cracked road, preventing people and vehicles from passing through the area. Many vehicles traveling from Quang Ngai City to Kon Tum had to stop, causing congestion on National Highway 24.

Heavy rains and floods caused flooding and traffic jams on National Highways 1A, 49B, 49C (Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri), Provincial Highways 582, 582B, 584, 4, 6, 6B, 8C, 9, 11A, 11B, 11C, 17, 17B, many inter-village and inter-commune roads (Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue); landslides on national and provincial highways: National Highway 9C (100m3), National Highway 9B, Provincial Road 558C (Quang Binh); Provincial Road 601, National Highway 14G (Da Nang); Provincial Road 628 (Quang Ngai).

On the morning of November 16, Quang Nam province authorities completed the repair of a landslide caused by heavy rain on Ho Chi Minh road through Phuoc Son district (Quang Nam province).

Traffic Police Team No. 2 has dispatched officers and soldiers to regulate traffic on Ho Chi Minh Highway. Flood water levels on the Huong River and Bo River in Thua Thien-Hue Province have receded below alert level 3, and heavy rain has gradually subsided.

The water has receded on some streets in Hue City, and people are taking advantage of the opportunity to clean up their homes. In areas where the water has receded, the Thua Thien-Hue Electricity Company has resumed power to serve people's lives. Functional units have been coordinating with local authorities to overcome the consequences of the floods.

The flood situation will continue to be complicated in the coming time. To focus on response and recovery, the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control requests provinces and cities affected by floods to organize and strictly implement Official Dispatch No. 1095/CD-TTg dated November 15, 2023 of the Prime Minister, Official Dispatch No. 17/CD-QG dated November 12, 2023 of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Official Dispatches No. 416/VPTT, 421/VPTT and 424/VPTT of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on proactively responding to the Northeast monsoon, strong winds at sea and heavy rain, flooding, risks of floods, flash floods, landslides and operating reservoirs to ensure safety in the downstream of the Huong River basin.

Commenting on the weather in the coming days, Head of the Weather Forecast Department - National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Nguyen Van Huong said that from November 16-17, the area from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai will have heavy to very heavy rain with common rainfall from 100-200mm, some places over 300mm. Quang Tri area and from Binh Dinh to Ninh Thuan will have rain of 50-100mm, some places over 150mm.

From November 16-17, floods on rivers in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai are likely to rise again, with flood peaks at alert levels 2-3. Rivers in Quang Tri, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen are likely to experience a flood, with flood peaks at alert levels 1-2, with some rivers above alert level 2.

Provinces from Quang Tri to Phu Yen are at high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, localized flooding in low-lying areas along rivers and urban areas. Flood risk warning level 2.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huong warned about the flood situation on rivers, and solutions are needed to ensure safety for important small hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs.

Floods on rivers cause inundation of low-lying areas along rivers, affecting activities such as water transport, aquaculture, agricultural production, people's lives and socio-economic activities.