Authorities and people in the lower Thanh Chuong district urgently 'overcome the flood'

Initial damage

The lower Thanh Chuong district includes the communes: Thanh Xuan, Thanh Lam, Thanh Giang, Thanh Tung, Thanh Ha, Thanh Mai, Thanh Long in Bich Hao cluster. This is a low-lying area that seems to be flooded every year.overwhelm,However, this flood, the water level is higher than every year.

Since October 28, water has surrounded and blocked communes and they have been gradually flooded.local. Initially, the flooding was due to the rain not flowing fast enough, then the Lam River rose, cutting off many roads and isolating many villages and hamlets.

Floodwaters have receded from the only road leading to Thanh Xuan commune on the morning of November 2. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Nguyen Van Canh - Head of Phu Lap hamlet, one of the four hamlets severely flooded in Thanh Xuan commune, said: The hamlet has 200 households, of which 30 households were severely flooded. In the past few days, there has been no electricity in the area, people cannot mill rice, there is a shortage of food, lack ofclean waterlife is quite difficult

By the morning of November 2, although the floodwater had receded by about 1.5m, the only road through the commune connecting National Highway 46 and Ho Chi Minh Road was above water. Access and relief for the people had become easier. However, some hamlets and villages were still isolated. Dang Market, Thanh Xuan Commune was still deeply flooded. Electricity had been restored in the commune.

Dang Market, Thanh Xuan Commune is still submerged in floodwater. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Nguyen Canh Nguyen in Ngu Cam hamlet shared: Thanh Xuan is a low-lying area, so floods often last longer than other places, taking 3-5 days for the water to drain, even lasting a week, causing people's lives to be disrupted. When the water first rises, people in the hamlet often join hands to help households in low-lying areas move buffaloes, cows, pigs, chickens to high places, move rice and furniture to the ceiling. When the water recedes, they help each other clean their houses, carry furniture back to their original places, and clean up. He himself participates in transporting relief goods to people, leaving every day in the morning and returning late at night.

During this flood, Thanh Xuan commune has 4 hamlets: Phu Lap, Xuan Lan, Mu Cam, Kim Hoa, with 1,200 households, 2,050 people isolated; when the flood water rose, 40 people had to evacuate; 5 houses were damaged; 2 houses had their roofs collapsed by trees (households of Mr. Ho Sy Tai and Ho Sy Quan), 160 ponds, 8 hectares of fish farming for the 3rd crop were lost, Dang market with dozens of kiosks was submerged in water, the system of bridges, culverts, canals, and roads were severely damaged, hundreds of hectares of crops were damaged from 30 to over 70%. According to preliminary statistics, during this flood, Thanh Xuan commune suffered about 7.6 billion VND in damage.

People in the flood-hit area of ​​Bich Hao cluster receive relief gifts. Photo: Huy Thu

Other communes in the Bich Hao cluster such as Thanh Lam, Thanh Tung, Thanh Giang, Thanh Ha, Thanh Long also have many hamlets isolated. Thuy Hoa hamlet (old) in Thanh Lam commune, Mai Dinh hamlet, Thanh Mai commune are also completely isolated. In Thanh Long commune, Long Son hamlets, Long Tien hamlets, cluster of 5 Long Giang hamlets with 510 households are also isolated, submerged in floodwater for many days.

Pay attention to the work of overcoming the consequences

After 5 days of being flooded, although the floodwaters have receded, the communes in Bich Hao cluster are still partially flooded, of which Thanh Xuan commune is still the most deeply flooded commune. Many houses have escaped flooding, but the floodwaters in the fields are still 1-4m high. It can be said that in this flood, although the communes in Bich Hao cluster did not suffer any human casualties, assets such as infrastructure, crops... were severely damaged, in which the fish farming area was almost completely lost.

A resident of Quang Ninh district (Quang Binh) gives gifts to flood victims in Thanh Xuan commune. Photo: Huy Thu

In recent days, the lives and activities of people in flooded areas have encountered many difficulties and struggles. However, people are also warmed by the attention and encouragement they have received from the government, departments, branches, and organizations at all levels, especially the sharing and help of people across the country.

The relief work was carried out urgently. Thanh Chuong district leaders were also present at the "flood center" to supervise the work. District military forces continuously used canoes to transport relief goods to help people for many days. Many volunteer groups traveled hundreds of kilometers to give gifts to the people.

Present at Thanh Xuan commune, Mr. Le Huu Minh Quy (37 years old), from Quang Ninh district - a locality that has just escaped flooding in Quang Binh province, said: Hearing that Nghe An people were flooded, we immediately organized a charity trip here, giving hundreds of gifts, little but much, to help encourage the people.

Warm relationship between army and people during flood days. Photo: Huy Thu

The flood water is receding, people in flooded communes are taking advantage of the opportunity to clean up their houses, yards, and roads as the water flows out.

Public works, such as village cultural houses, sports fields, historical relics... are also being dredged, pumped, cleaned or cleared by local departments, agencies, organizations and people while the flood water has not completely receded.

After the flood, in addition to the urgent need for food, necessities, environmental sanitation and disease prevention are also of particular concern to localities. The amount of waste that is carried by the water onto village roads, alleys, animal carcasses... are collected and treated by the people.

Thanh Giang commune residents clean the sports field as floodwaters recede. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Nguyen Khanh Thanh - Secretary of Thanh Xuan Commune Party Committee said: During and after the flood, the top concern is people's lives, ensuring that people do not lack food or drink. Next, we will overcome the consequences of environmental sanitation, epidemics, and repair damaged traffic works, irrigation works...

According to Mr. Thanh, Thanh Xuan commune is a locality that is often heavily flooded during the flood season, while the only road running through the commune is damaged and needs to be upgraded to serve as a "relief backbone" and "support" for people every flood season.

In this flood, not only Thanh My commune and Bich Hao cluster were flooded and suffered heavy damage, but many other localities in Thanh Chuong district were also partially flooded such as Vo Liet, Hanh Lam, Thanh Nho, Thanh Ngoc, Thanh Giang, Thanh Luong communes...

The damage caused by storm No. 9 and this flood in Thanh Chuong district was enormous. The whole district had 4 people swept away by the flood, 3 people injured, with broken arms and legs, thousands of households were evacuated, hundreds of households were affected by landslides, 34 houses had their walls collapsed, trees crushed, and roofs blown off; 1,400 hectares of crops, 46,000 poultry and hundreds of pigs died; 8 bridges were swept away.

Many roads suffered serious landslides. In particular, Nguoc mountain suffered a severe landslide, thousands of meters³Rocks and soil filled the road, completely blocking Highway 46.

The scene of the search for the bodies of two men missing in the flood in Thanh An commune. Photo: Huy Thu

Regarding the flood aftermath in the area, Mr. Trinh Van Nha - Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee said: The district requests localities to clean up as the water recedes, and clean up the environment after the flood. Mobilize existing forces to coordinate with military and police forces in the province to carry out activities to support people. Pay attention to helping policy families, single parents, and families in special circumstances...

The repair and restoration of the infrastructure system will take place later. At the same time, support for local sources of plant and animal seeds, production recovery, and stabilization of people's lives...