Nghe An plans to evacuate people when there is heavy rain and flooding caused by storm No. 2

Due to the influence of storm circulation No. 2, internationally named SINLAKU, in Nghe An, there was moderate to heavy rain, some places had very heavy rain and thunderstorms, the common rainfall, from 7:00 p.m. on July 31 to 7:00 a.m. on August 2, was commonly from 70-200mm.

Strictly implementing the contents of the Central Steering Committee's telegrams, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued 3 urgent telegrams to respond to the tropical depression, prohibiting ships from going to sea and telegram to respond to storm No. 2 (SINLAKU). The Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the Border Guard Command, and the Provincial Military Command sent many delegations to inspect and direct the response.

Major General Ha Tho Binh - Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of Military Region 4 and the working delegation inspected the work of preventing, fighting and responding to storm No. 2 in Cua Lo. Photo: Thu Huyen

As of 7:00 a.m. on August 2, all vessels in Nghe An province (the whole province has 3,488 vessels with 17,440 workers directly fishing at sea) have come ashore to take shelter from storm No. 2. In addition, 27 vessels with 154 workers from other provinces have entered Nghe An province to take shelter from storm No. 2.

Up to this point in the summer-autumn crop, the rice area has been planted at 84,156.2 ha/plan of 90,000 ha, (reaching 93.5%). Total aquaculture area: 18,670.0 ha. All aquaculture households have known about storm No. 2 and have proactively taken measures to prevent and minimize damage.

At present, there are about 300 tourists staying in Cua Lo town. All tourists and owners of accommodation establishments have been informed about the developments of storm No. 2. Photo: Thu Huyen

Irrigation companies are operating the main drainage sluices according to the motto of "draining the tide and draining water" to protect rice and crops, protect aquaculture areas; and prevent flooding in low-lying areas. Key irrigation projects under construction such as Ba Ra Do Luong, Ban Mong Irrigation and other irrigation and hydropower dams are being implemented according to approved disaster prevention and control plans. The main drainage axes and the final drainage sluices of the system have plans to drain water when heavy rain occurs. Large drainage system items such as Bara Nghi Quang sluice have minor damage, and the operating units have developed plans for the most unfavorable conditions.

According to the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control of Nghe An province, localities have reviewed residential areas along rivers, streams, downstream of lakes, dams, low-lying areas, areas along streams outside river banks, areas at risk of landslides, flash floods, unsafe housing to proactively evacuate people to safe places. Especially at 4 landslide locations in communes: Muong Tip, Muong Ai, Bao Nam and block 4, Ky Son town, localities have prepared plans to evacuate people when there is rain and flood to safe places such as: Commune People's Committee headquarters, schools, border guards, and staying at houses with safe places.

Nghe An fishermen urgently tie up boats. Photo: Thu Huyen

There are 19 hydropower reservoirs in operation in the province. Of these, 8 reservoirs (Ban Ve, Khe Bo, Chi Khe, Nam Non, Nam Mo, Ban Ang, Nhan Hac A, Chau Thang) are operating according to the Inter-reservoir Operation Process on the Ca River Basin and the remaining reservoirs are operating according to the single-reservoir process, all of which have approved disaster prevention and dam safety plans.

Currently, there are 1,061 lakes in the province: 97 of which are managed by enterprises, the rest are managed by localities. Only 14 lakes are full of water (including 2 lakes managed by enterprises, 12 lakes managed by localities); 236 lakes are running out of water (including 14 lakes managed by enterprises, 222 lakes managed by localities); 3 lakes have a capacity greater than 70% of the design capacity, 13 lakes from 50-70%, 79 lakes have a capacity less than 50%; the remaining lakes have a capacity of 20-40%. Currently, the 2020 flood prevention and control plan has been approved for the lakes.

Boats anchored to avoid storm number 2 at Cua Hoi fishing port. Photo: Thu Huyen

According to a quick report from the Provincial Border Guard Command, as of 9:30 a.m. on August 2, at the Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station, fishing boat NA93679TS of Mr. Le Ba Tinh, born in 1981, residing in Quynh Lap commune, Hoang Mai town, Nghe An province, was anchored at Lach Con to avoid the storm when the boat tilted and half of it sank.

Strictly implementing the contents of the directives of the Central Government, the Prime Minister and the province; Departments, branches and localities, according to their assigned functions and tasks, are implementing response measures according to approved plans to ensure the safety of people, property of the people, key projects and other infrastructure. Coastal localities are ready to evacuate when ordered, according to the disaster response plan approved by the Provincial People's Committee. The Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control regularly directs agencies and units to seriously organize 24/7 on-duty work to proactively grasp the situation and have timely response plans when bad situations occur...

Mr. Pham Hong Thuong - Deputy Chief of Office of the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control - Search and Rescue of Nghe An province