Flood season is approaching, mountainous districts of Nghe An make plans to respond to natural disasters

Fear of landslides

Back to the remote districtKy SonNearly a year after the historic flash flood in Ta Ca commune, on the main roads from Muong Xen town to Ta Ca, Muong Tip, Muong Ai; Huu Lap, Bao Thang, Bao Nam, Muong Xen to Tay Son commune... there are still dozens of points at high risk of landslides.

Ms. Lo Thi Lien, owner of the house located next to the locationhigh risk of landslidein Hoa Son village, can't help but worry, saying: Right behind the house is a landslide from last year's historic flood. Due to long-term drought, the dry and cracked soil and rocks have more cracks appearing, so when it rains heavily, we are always worried...

Leading us on the road from Muong Xen town through Hoa Son and Son Ha villages of Ta Ca commune, to Tay Son commune, Mr. Vi Van Truyen - Head of Hoa Son village worried: In the first days of July, heavy rains appeared in the commune, water from streams poured into the village; fearing landslides, many households had to take refuge. More worryingly, because the culvert placed through Huoi Com stream is too small, it is difficult to drain water when there is heavy rain, causing water to overflow onto the road surface, rushing into the village, damaging the road surface and the property and crops of the people.

“Currently, in Hoa Son village, there are 3 areas at high risk of landslides, and many households are living nearby. Therefore, when there is heavy rain, the village officials instruct people to avoid it by not staying at home but staying with others in a safe location,” said Mr. Vi Van Truyen.

Provincial Road 543D connecting Muong Xen town to the center of Ta Ca, Muong Tip, and Muong Ai communes also has a series of points at high risk of landslides. At some points, local authorities have had to put up warning signs for people when passing by. Ta Ca commune residents said that after the recent heavy rains, there were some landslides on the positive slopes of this provincial road. Authorities have leveled the slopes, but the risk is still high because there is a lot of cracked soil and rocks above, which can fall down at any time.

Mr. Tho Ba Re - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son district said that due to the impact of the rainy season last year, especially the historic flood in early October 2023, there are currently dozens of points in Ky Son at high risk of landslides. Worryingly, these points are located in residential areas, especially in Hoa Son and Son Ha villages (Ta Ca commune) and on major roads.

In Tuong Duong district, landslides and the risk of landslides in houses and mountains during heavy rains have also caused concern for local authorities. On June 24, during heavy rains, a large rock fell from the top of the mountain and rolled into the house of Mr. Luong Van Giap in Ve village, Yen Na commune. As a result, the floor, doors, beds, cabinets, etc. of Mr. Giap's family were damaged.

Mr. Luong Van Dong - Head of Ve village, Yen Na commune said that the village has about 40 households located in the area at high risk of landslides. In the recent heavy rains, in addition to Mr. Luong Van Giap's family, Ms. Vi Thi Tuyet's family was also damaged by rocks falling from the mountain, damaging the house walls and windows.

According to the assessment ofXiangyang DistrictCurrently, in the district, there are dozens of places at high risk of landslides: Households of La, Minh Phuong, Xop Mat and Coi villages along the route from Cua Rao - Ban Ve; route 48C; along the route from Tam Thai - Tam Hop; Xop Kho - Na Ngan, Xop Kho - Na Kho; Xieng Nua - Ban Xan route; Xop Mat - Cham Puong route; Xop Nam village area, Tam Hop commune; Tung Huong and Tan Huong villages, Tam Quang commune; Pha Khao village, Mai Son commune; households located along Khe Bo hydroelectric lake, Nam Non hydroelectric lake; resettlement areas with steep terrain and high slopes.

Proactive disaster response plan

Faced with the worrying situation of landslides in the upcoming rainy season, mountainous localities in Nghe An have developed specific plans to respond to natural disasters.

Ky Son and Tuong Duong districts are the areas with the highest risk of landslides. Therefore, since June, these localities have reorganized the PCTT – TKCN Command Committee. When there is a warning of a tropical depression, storm, or heavy rain, all levels and sectors monitor weather developments regularly and notify local authorities and people to deploy timely prevention and control measures. Along with that, forecasts, warnings, directives, prevention, control, and response operations are regularly and continuously announced on mass media and on the loudspeaker systems of villages and hamlets.

The local Steering Committees for Disaster Prevention and Control also focused on mobilizing all forces to deploy measures to cope with rain and floods, organize rescue and relief; assign members to directly go to the grassroots to direct people to deploy response measures with the 4-on-the-spot motto, ensuring to minimize damage to people and property. When rain and floods occur, proactively check and have plans to evacuate households in areas at risk of being affected to a safe place.

When heavy rains last for many days, water in streams begins to rise and the rain is forecast to continue, the People's Committees of communes and towns organize to check and evacuate households in areas at risk of flooding and landslides. Localities directly command the evacuation work; control traffic to guide people and vehicles to travel safely in adverse weather conditions.

Mr. Lo Kham Kha - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy Standing Committee of the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control of Tuong Duong district said: Learning from previous flood seasons, this year, Tuong Duong clearly identified areas at high risk of landslides in order to develop specific response plans. Especially when there is a forecast of a tropical depression, the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control will immediately implement response measures in localities, in order to minimize damage to people and key projects in the area./.