Hai Duong takes early and proactive action against natural disasters

Unusual natural disaster

In 2023 alone, the country experienced 1,964 natural disasters with 21/22 types, especially heavy rains causing landslides, flash floods, floods, and widespread inundation, killing 1,129 people, leaving them missing, causing damage of over 9,324 billion VND. Of which, Hai Duong had 1 person killed by lightning, with economic damage due to natural disasters estimated at 20 billion VND. In 2023, damage due to natural disasters in Hai Duong decreased significantly compared to 2022 with 1 less death and 110 billion VND less damage. This is also the year with much fewer storms and tropical depressions than the average of many years and no storms made landfall.

However, from the beginning of 2024 until now, the weather and natural disasters in Hai Duong have been irregular and extreme, such as severe cold occurring many times, and record low temperatures affecting human health, livestock, and crops.

Mr. Vu Van Nhuan in Vinh Lap commune (Thanh Ha) said that the main lychee crop has never failed like this year. The main reason is unfavorable weather, prolonged cold and erratic rain and sunshine, causing the lychee to not flower.

The unusual weather changes during the changing seasons are also one of the causes of the lack of dissolved oxygen in the water, killing nearly 1,000 tons of fish in cages in Hai Duong City and Nam Sach District in early April. Meanwhile, since early May, heavy rains have occurred locally, causing some roads in Hai Duong City to be deeply flooded, greatly affecting the lives of many people.

Hai Duong Province's Hydrometeorological Station predicts that natural disasters will be more severe in the remaining months of 2024. Hai Duong is likely to be affected by 2-3 storms or tropical depressions concentrated in August and September. The entire season may have 5-8 heavy to very heavy rains. The peak of the heat wave is concentrated in June and July with more and more severe spells than the average of many years.

Ready to respond

With the motto of taking early and proactive action against natural disasters, before each time when adverse weather is forecasted, the Hai Duong Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue directs localities and units to proactively respond and minimize damage caused by natural disasters. Improve the quality of natural disaster forecasting and warning. Prepare on-site forces to promptly support people to overcome consequences if any.

Cam Giang District is one of the localities that has been heavily affected by heavy rains in recent years, so flood prevention work has always been of interest and focus to this locality. The total drainage area of ​​Cam Giang is 5,994.6 hectares, divided into 5 regions. From the beginning of the year, the District Irrigation Works Exploitation Enterprise assigned the task to the irrigation clusters to coordinate with the localities to manage and take charge of these regions. In which, Van Kieu Irrigation Cluster manages 2 pumping stations Van Thai and Tien Kieu with a total pumping and drainage basin area of ​​4,467 hectares (accounting for 74.5% of the district's drainage area), including 8 communes and 2 towns.

Mr. Nguyen Van Duong, Head of Van Kieu Irrigation Cluster, said that the two pumping stations above have great drainage power, which is very convenient for drainage. Before this year's rainy and stormy season, all 16 pumps were maintained and ready to pump to prevent flooding. "We request that communes in the basin continue to remove obstacles, propagate and remind people not to dump waste into the canals, causing pollution and obstructing the flow," said Mr. Duong.

Ms. Tran Thi Hai, Head of Van Thai Pumping Station, said that during the rainy and stormy season, the station will arrange 2 people/shift; when there is heavy rain or a storm appears in the East Sea, 50% of the staff will be mobilized. In case of an emergency storm, the entire staff will be mobilized to be on duty 24/7 to respond. At the same time, they will strengthen the inspection of intra-field canals, open drainage sluices and operate pumps when ordered by superiors.

In recent years, the dike system of Tu Ky district has also received investment and renovation, so the key weak points have gradually decreased. However, due to the impact of the Thai Binh river system's floods due to the fluctuation of the flow, the embankments and river banks are still fluctuating strongly. In 2024, this locality will have 3 key weak dike projects including: Dua A sluice on the right dike of Thai Binh river (Chi Minh commune), Thanh Ky embankment on the right dike of Thai Binh river (An Thanh commune) and preventing overflow of the dike on the left dike of Luoc river (Nguyen Giap commune).

Mr. Nguyen Cong Than, Head of the Dike Management Department of Tu Ky district, said that these key points have been developed with detailed protection plans, including hypothetical situations in which incidents occur and adequate human resources and materials are prepared to promptly resolve them. However, in the long term, investment and renovation are needed to eliminate these key points.

In 2024, Hai Duong identified 27 key areas of critical dike projects, a decrease of 3 key areas compared to 2023. Of which, Thanh Ha district has the most with 7 key areas. Next is Kim Thanh with 6 key areas, Kinh Mon with 4 key areas... All of these key areas have protection plans developed.