Farmers in Phuc Son commune, Anh Son district, are still rushing to the fields to harvest green pumpkins to escape the storm. Photo: Thai Hien

In the lower reaches of the Lam River in Phuc Son commune, despite the heavy rain, the pumpkin harvest was bustling, with long lines of vehicles carrying pumpkins home. Mr. Nguyen Van Nga, from Hamlet 7, Phuc Son commune, expressed his concern: "This is the first pumpkin crop. My family planted 3 sao (approximately 0.3 hectares) in the lower reaches of the Lam River. From planting to harvesting, it only takes 90 days, yielding 5 to 6 harvests. We've already harvested the first crop. Because we had to harvest quickly to avoid the storm, traders are forcing down the price, selling it for only 1,500-3,500 VND/kg."

Next to the pumpkin field, the family of Mr. Dang Quang Viet, in Hamlet 4, Phuc Son Commune, is also mobilizing family members to harvest pumpkins before the storm. Mr. Viet said: "It has been raining continuously for the past three days, and a storm is forecast to arrive tonight. The Khe Bo hydroelectric dam is also releasing water, so my family has concentrated our manpower on harvesting this crop of pumpkins. However, we are very worried because the price is too low, making it not worth the effort we put into harvesting."

Because the pumpkins were harvested just before the storm, traders forced down the price, selling them for only 1,500 - 3,500 VND/kg. Photo: Thai Hien

Mr. Nguyen The Phuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Son commune, said: "This pumpkin crop in Phuc Son commune covers 5 hectares in the riverside area along the Lam River. To avoid damage to crops caused by the storm, the Phuc Son commune government has directed people to urgently harvest pumpkins on the riverside land to prevent losses due to rain and storms. At the same time, officials have been assigned to closely monitor the situation in the villages and hamlets, going directly to the people and participating in the timely harvesting of crops to prevent losses due to rain and storms."

Along with directing farmers to harvest crops to prevent damage, Anh Son district also instructed agencies, units, and the People's Committees of communes and towns to effectively implement the "four on-the-spot" measures, ready to respond when needed, and to organize 24/7 monitoring of storm developments, regularly reporting damage and incidents to the District Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue. Timely information was disseminated through mass media so that people could be aware and proactively take appropriate preventive measures. At the same time, inspections were conducted in areas at high risk of flash floods and landslides, and plans were in place to evacuate people and property to safe locations when storms arrived.