Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dao Xuan Hoc inspected flood relief work in Tuong Duong district.

Yesterday afternoon, September 22, a working delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development led by Deputy Minister Dao Xuan Hoc inspected the flood relief work in Tuong Duong district. Accompanying the delegation on the side of Nghe An provincial leaders were Mr. Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

After inspecting some severely damaged traffic works in some communes and checking the landslide incident at Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, this morning, September 23, the working delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had a working session with the leaders of Tuong Duong district.

According to the report of Tuong Duong district, the recent heavy and prolonged floods caused flash floods and landslides in many places throughout the district: 391 houses were flooded, 43 houses collapsed, 26 houses were washed away, and 196 houses were eroded.

Inspection delegation at Ban Ve Hydropower Plant

33 classrooms collapsed, 25 teacher dormitories were flooded and damaged; 3 medical stations were severely damaged. Regarding agriculture, 2.5 hectares of rice fields were flooded, 199.25 hectares of rice were flooded, 4 buffaloes and cows were swept away; 2.8 hectares of agricultural land were eroded, 19.5 hectares of fish ponds were swept away, total loss. 14 irrigation works were damaged, 729m of canals were eroded and damaged, 2 bridges and aqueducts collapsed, 17 temporary dams, 10 water wheels were swept away. 41 self-flowing domestic water works were damaged, 112m of pipelines were swept away.

All traffic routes in the district, especially inter-commune roads, suffered serious landslides, with a total of 28,150m3 of landslides, 4,003m of asphalt damaged, and 2 suspension bridges washed away. Up to now, some points in the district are still isolated. The total damage caused by natural disasters is estimated at about 208,684.1 million VND.

Checking the landslide point at Xop Mat village - Luong Minh commune

To overcome the consequences caused by floods, with the 4-on-the-spot motto, the district has mobilized forces to repair houses, relocate houses, provide rice, support blankets, clothes, and help people quickly stabilize their lives. Directing district hospitals and commune health stations to urgently spray disinfectants, providing tools and materials to clean water sources to ensure hygiene and the environment to prevent epidemics. Directing schools to clean classrooms so that students can return to school soon.

At the meeting, leaders of Nghe An province and Tuong Duong district made recommendations and proposals to the Deputy Minister on a number of issues: it is necessary to have a policy to promptly support funding to repair and upgrade weak lakes, dredge canals, and drains that have collapsed or been filled up. It is recommended that the Government, the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, and central ministries and branches support the province with medicines, seeds for agricultural production, and funding to repair essential infrastructure works such as clinics, schools, traffic works, and irrigation works; support vehicles for rescue work; support machinery and equipment for the district to promptly clear landslide-affected roads; speed up the implementation of clean water supply and rural environmental sanitation projects; support the relocation of households from areas at risk of landslides, flash floods, and flash floods.

Deputy Minister Dao Xuan Hoc works with leaders of Tuong Duong district

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Dao Xuan Hoc shared his sympathy for the damage caused by the floods and highly appreciated the district's direction and recovery efforts. He also highly agreed with Nghe An's recommendations and proposals. However, in order to have a policy to support the relocation of people in areas at high risk of landslides, Nghe An must have a written proposal to the Government to send inspection teams to survey. Regarding clean water and other support policies, Deputy Minister Dao Xuan Hoc promised to soon have support policies to help people overcome difficulties to stabilize their lives.

Dang Cuong