Nghe An plans to evacuate households living in areas at risk of flash floods and landslides to safety.

Fear of flash floods and landslides

Thong Thu Commune is one of the localities in the border area of ​​Que Phong district, where landslides often occur every year on roads and residential areas; in particular, there are currently some cracks on the mountainside, threatening the lives and property of people.

Mr. Luong Van Huan - Chairman of Thong Thu Commune People's Committee said that since 2023, two cracks have appeared in the commune on the mountainside of Muong Phu village, which are at risk of causing landslides. The first crack is about 20cm wide and more than 7m long; the second crack is 40cm wide and more than 4m long. Both of these points are about 1km apart and more than 1km from the residential area. The commune government has put up signs warning people about the risk of landslides in this area.

In the remote Ky Son district, the risk of flash floods and landslides is always alarming in the communes of Muong Tip, Muong Ai, Ta Ca, Chieu Luu, Bao Thang, Bao Nam...

Mr. Lo Van Cang - Chairman of the People's Committee of Chieu Luu Commune (Ky Son), said: Serious landslides occur almost every year in the commune, causing many houses to collapse; especially in the villages of Xieng Thu, Khe Nan... Statistics show that in the commune, there are currently nearly 300 households in the landslide risk area, needing to be relocated to a safe place.

According to Mr. Tho Ba Re - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son district, in the whole district, there are currently nearly 450 households in the communes of Chieu Luu, Muong Ai, Keng Du and Huoi Tu located in areas at high risk of landslides and need to be relocated to safe places.

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The current problem is that ethnic minorities have limited awareness of disaster warning information. Therefore, all levels and sectors need to have solutions to promote propaganda and educate the community on disaster response skills for people.

Mr. Tho Ba Re - Vice Chairman of Ky Son District People's Committee

Improving capacity to respond to incidents and natural disasters

Nghe An has 27 land border communes in 6 border districts (Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, Anh Son, Thanh Chuong, Que Phong) and 28 coastal border communes and wards in 5 districts and towns in the sea border area: Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Vinh city and Hoang Mai town). This area often faces natural disasters and incidents such as storms, floods, landslides, forest fires and incidents at sea.

From 2020 to 2024, the province recorded more than 426 natural disasters and accidents at sea, killing 83 people, leaving 21 missing and damaging thousands of hectares of crops. In addition, the forces and equipment for disaster response are still limited. The early warning system has not been invested synchronously, the search and rescue force mainly operates according to the "4 on-site" motto but has not met actual requirements. Moreover, propaganda and raising public awareness on disaster prevention and control have not been effectively implemented in some localities.

Faced with that situation, in February 2025, the People's Committee of Nghe An province developed the Project "Improving the capacity to respond to incidents, natural disasters and search and rescue in border and coastal areas, period 2025 - 2030" to enhance the effectiveness of natural disaster prevention and control, ensure safety for people and promote socio-economic development.

The project aims to enhance the capacity to respond to incidents, natural disasters and search and rescue, minimize human and property damage, and improve the ability to adapt to climate change. This will contribute to ensuring security and safety for people, sustainable socio-economic development and strengthening national defense and security in the area.

Accordingly, the specific goal for the 2025-2027 period is to educate 85% of people in border and coastal areas about natural disaster prevention and control. Complete the natural disaster warning system, ensuring timely information to the people. Strengthen the PCTT-TKCN Command Committee at all levels, establish permanent rescue teams at the district and commune levels. In the 2028-2030 period, fully equip the core force with rescue equipment. Complete natural disaster prevention and control works such as breakwaters, ship and boat anchorage areas. Evacuate households living in areas at risk of flash floods and landslides to safe places.

Natural disasters are a major challenge to the sustainable development of Nghe An. The project "Improving the capacity to respond to incidents, natural disasters and search and rescue in the border and sea areas of Nghe An province in the period of 2025 - 2030" is an important step to reduce risks and improve local resilience.

To achieve the set goals, the cooperation of the government, businesses and the entire population is needed. Only with good preparation can we minimize damage and protect people's lives from increasingly severe natural disasters./.