Hoang Mai town submerged in water

(Baonghean) - Although not the center of storm No. 10, from September 30 to October 1, our province had heavy to very heavy rain, commonly from 100 to 541mm. Floods have caused many human and property losses. In particular, in Hoang Mai town, heavy rain combined with flood discharge from Vuc Mau lake has caused many areas to be submerged in water.

From the afternoon of September 30 to the morning of October 1, the rainfall in Hoang Mai Town was very heavy, measuring 540 mm. Water from the streams poured in, causing the Vuc Mau reservoir with a capacity of over 75 million m3 to quickly fill up at an emergency alert level. Faced with this situation, the Bac Irrigation Company Limited directed the Quynh Luu Irrigation Enterprise to release floodwaters from 5 gates to ensure the safety of the reservoir. Water poured into the downstream communes combined with tidal water from the river, causing severe flooding in this area. In communes such as Quynh Vinh, Quynh Trang, Quynh Thang and the town center, people are trapped, many households have water up to their windows and roofs.

Present at National Highway 1A yesterday morning, the section through Hoang Mai town was deeply flooded, impassable. Right at Cau Giat town and Quynh Van, Quynh Xuan communes... thousands of vehicles were stuck. Mr. Vo Quang Trung - Major - Deputy Head of Traffic Police of Quynh Luu district said: National Highway 1A section through Hoang Mai town, Mai Hung, Quynh Thien area, the water was nearly 1 meter deep, so it was very dangerous. The traffic police team was stationed at 4 points along the route, strictly prohibiting vehicles from passing. On National Highway 1A, the section under construction, the flood water quickly overflowed, causing erosion into many households and even the steps of Quynh Xuan Cemetery. Mr. Nguyen Nam in Quynh Xuan said: Around 11 o'clock at night, the water suddenly overflowed quickly across National Highway 1A, flowing rapidly, causing the house steps to collapse.

Quynh Vinh Ward, Hoang Mai Town submerged in water. Photo: Nguyen Khoa - PLVN

Mr. Hoang Nghia Hieu, Chief of the Standing Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, presented instant noodles to Ms. Nguyen Thi Luyen in Quynh Vinh commune, Hoang Mai town.

Near Quynh Thien ward, the flood water was flowing rapidly, the traffic police firmly refused to let us drive our motorbikes because it was too dangerous. We reached Mr. Lam Phi in block 12, Mai Hung ward - the flooded area, Mr. Phi said: The flood water rose so quickly that the whole village was submerged in water, my house is on the highest mound so it has not been flooded yet, currently there are nearly 20 people from block 12 coming to my house to avoid the flood. The rain is still heavy, the water continues to rise, my house will quickly be submerged, I don't know where to take shelter because the surrounding area is isolated. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai worriedly said: The family has 3 small children, all of them were brought to Mr. Lam Phi's house, but the house was submerged almost to the roof, pigs and chickens all died in the flood, nearly 700 kg of dried rice is now submerged. It's very sad but what can we do, human life is important. Sister Hai continued: The rice is all wet and there is nothing to eat. This afternoon, two officers from the Quynh Luu Irrigation Enterprise unpacked two boxes of instant noodles in the car for the people. If the water continues to rise, we don't know where we can move or what we can eat.

Continuing to contact Mr. Dau Si Hien - Chairman of Mai Hung Ward by phone, his wife Vu Thi Giang in block 11 picked up the phone and said: Mr. Hien is going to rescue people in the flood. Currently, my house is on the highest mound in the village, the water has flooded the kitchen, many households have water up to the roof tiles. Currently, my family has 5 households coming to avoid the flood. Because all the rice of the households was soaked, the family had to cook rice for the people to eat. The most difficult thing now is that the amount of rice in the family is almost gone and there is no food, the people have to eat rice with salt and fish sauce to survive.

Faced with the above situation, the town has directed localities to provide on-site rescue as the only way. Mainly, local militia and self-defense forces have taken the elderly, children, and poor families to take shelter in high-rise buildings.

Early yesterday morning, the Provincial Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Committee mobilized 4 emergency speedboats to Hoang Mai Town to help people evacuate. By early afternoon, Mr. Hoang Nghia Hieu, Chief of the Standing Office of the Provincial Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Committee, decided to dispatch 2 more speedboats from the military to Hoang Mai Town. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong was also present in Hoang Mai Town early in the morning to directly direct the rescue of people there. With a total of 10 canoes, the functional forces rescued hundreds of people trapped on the roofs.

Block 19, Quynh Vinh ward (Hoang Mai town) is deeply flooded. Photo: PLVN

At 8:00 p.m. last night, Comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee convened a meeting with the People's Committee of Hoang Mai Town, the Provincial Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Committee, the Provincial Military Command and established a Forward Command Committee stationed in Mai Hung Commune to direct the rescue work. At that time, there were 20 households in the danger zone, 600 households in need of urgent evacuation, and about 20,000 houses were flooded. That very night, the Provincial Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Committee transported 10 tons of instant noodles and 1,000 water tanks to distribute to people in flooded areas.

At 9:45 p.m. on October 1, a 7-seat car of the Department of Industry and Trade on the way to transport instant noodles and clean water to Hoang Mai Town to rescue people was swept away by floodwaters, leaving one person missing. That same night, Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee immediately arrived at Hoang Mai Town to directly command the search and rescue work, rescuing people from the flooded area. At night, with strong winds and rushing water, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directly waded into the area where boats and rescue vehicles were being gathered to command. He emphasized: "Many people are in danger in the flooded area, the rescue work cannot be delayed. The authorities and the People's Committee of Hoang Mai Town continue to search for the missing people, and at the same time do a good job of relief work, absolutely not letting people go hungry or thirsty in the flood".

Mr. Ho Ngoc Mai - Director of Bac Irrigation Company Limited - One Member Limited Liability Company said: Up to this point, the water level in Vuc Mau Lake is still in an emergency alert state, only when it reaches alert level II will we not release floodwaters. It is expected that if it does not rain, the floodgates will be closed about 2 days later. Currently, it is still raining and floodwaters from upstream rivers and streams are pouring in, so the company must continue to release floodwaters to ensure dam safety.

In Quynh Luu districtAs of the morning of October 1, the entire district had 280 hectares of summer-autumn rice - the season that had not been harvested yet - flooded, over 1,500 hectares of vegetables were waterlogged, reducing 70% of productivity, over 350 hectares of aquaculture were damaged; 3,000 poultry and 150 livestock died. Total agricultural damage was about 22 billion VND. Regarding traffic and irrigation works, over 177,000 m3 of landslides were estimated at over 32 billion VND. Notably, in the district, 527 households were flooded and 151 households had to be relocated, mainly concentrated in the communes of Quynh Lam, Quynh Tan, Quynh Tam, Tan Thang, Quynh Thang and Cau Giat Town.

To overcome the problems caused by floods, currently the functional departments and agencies of Hoang Mai Town and Quynh Luu District are looking for every measure to help people, minimize possible damage, and first of all ensure the safety of people's lives.

At Que Phong, due to the influence of storm No. 10 and the circulation after the storm, on September 30 and October 1, the rainfall in Que Phong and Quy Chau districts was about 200 to 300 mm. The heavy rainfall combined with water flowing from upstream caused the water level of Quang River, Hieu River and streams in the area to rise very quickly.

According to the report of the Standing Committee of the Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Committee of Que Phong district, up to this point, there have been no landslides or major damages. However, in order to be proactive in handling situations, in addition to assigning members to be on duty 24/7, the District Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Committee has continuously sent forces to inspect and review roads and inspect and urge the grassroots Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Committee to be on duty seriously. Currently, although the rain has decreased, the risk of landslides on roads from National Highway 48 to Nam Giai commune or from Dong Van commune to Thong Thu is very high.

In Quy Chau, heavy rain has caused large landslides and traffic jams on the road from the town to Chau Phong commune. Since yesterday, after receiving information, the District Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Command has mobilized machinery to level, clear and cut down fallen trees, but due to heavy rain, landslides continue to occur, paralyzing traffic on this road. Heavy rain combined with water flowing from upstream caused a section of National Highway 48 under Chau Tien bridge in Chau Tien commune (Quy Chau) to be partially flooded on the morning of October 1, making it impossible for passenger buses from Que Phong to Vinh to travel.

The spillway bridge across Hieu River from National Highway 48 to Chau Thang Commune was flooded 0.5m deep, making it impossible for people and vehicles to travel. According to the Quy Chau District Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Steering Committee, as of now (3:00 p.m. on October 1), 2 out of 11 Chau Phong Commune residents who went into the forest to collect bamboo shoots have lost contact. The District Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Steering Committee is actively coordinating with the commune authorities and their families to obtain information and update the situation in order to find a solution.

In Thai Hoa Town, heavy rains accompanied by strong winds have flooded 405 hectares of unharvested rice in the locality and are at risk of total loss. In addition, 70 hectares of sugarcane, 25 hectares of corn and 11 hectares of cassava of all kinds are currently deeply flooded. Notably, 100% of dams and irrigation works in the area have exceeded the 50 cm flood spillway. Regarding infrastructure, as of 8:00 a.m. yesterday, 600 households in Thong Nhat hamlet (Tay Hieu), hamlet 7A, hamlet 5A, hamlet 13, Nghia Thuan commune had to evacuate due to flooding. The Town People's Committee has allowed students to stay home from school since yesterday afternoon. In particular, heavy rain has caused National Highway 48 through Nghia Thuan commune to be flooded 1 meter deep, causing traffic jams since the early morning of October 1. As of 9:00 a.m. on October 1, 1 person was injured in the area.

The Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention of the town has deployed and directed departments, branches, organizations and localities to maintain 24/7 readiness. For flooded areas, quickly evacuate people to safe places. Absolutely do not let people and vehicles pass through deep water sections.

At Nghia Dan, flood water washed away the road, so 4 communes of Nghia Minh, Nghia Hoi, Nghia Yen, Nghia Binh and the town are isolated. Heavy rain flooded 240 hectares of rice; 24 hectares of trees, crops, 15 hectares of cassava were submerged in water. In addition, 1,420 poultry, 70 pigs, 40 hectares of ponds were washed away; 149 houses had to be evacuated, 249 houses were flooded but did not have to be evacuated. The Military Command of Nghia Dan district mobilized 45 officers and soldiers and more than 500 militia and self-defense forces along with 3 rescue boats to help the people. According to Lieutenant Colonel Ho Van Chuyen - Commander of the Military Command of Nghia Dan district, "Never before has the water been as high as this year. Almost all of Highway 531 has been eroded. The Military Command of the district has mobilized people's vehicles to bring people in dangerous areas to safety".

At Anh Son:Through inspections of key works, dams, and ferry piers in the entire district, the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue of the district requested localities and units to be on duty 24/7, regularly inspect irrigation reservoirs in the area; prepare forces, means, and materials to promptly handle incidents when they occur. Based on the storm and flood situation in the area, communes proactively develop plans to evacuate people in the downstream areas of the dam, and schools let students take time off to ensure their safety. Ferry piers stop operating when the river water rises. People are strictly prohibited from collecting firewood on the river. Localities in low-lying areas at risk of landslides are required to urgently evacuate to safe places. In addition, the district directed localities to inspect, review, and implement measures to protect dykes, irrigation dams, especially key works. Thanks to proactive response, up to now, Anh Son has not suffered major damage to people and property.

From the afternoon of September 30 to the morning of October 1, the entire Con Cuong district had continuous rain for many hours, causing the streams to flow rapidly. Khe Moi spillway (Luc Da commune), which had caused disruption during previous floods, was able to pass normally from noon on October 1. In Mon Son commune, the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control arranged 5 teams to be on duty 24/7 at the spillways and ferry piers. All activities at the ferry piers were suspended. To avoid "super storm" No. 10, most schools let students take the day off on October 1.

At Nam Dan:Strong winds combined with heavy rains broke 30 low-voltage power poles, more than 200 kg of A25-A50 aluminum wire, damaged 63 beams of various types, 80 low-voltage ceramic balls, and 6 meters. Due to many broken power lines and short circuits in many transformer stations, power supply had to be stopped on 3 power lines 371 E15.15; 973 E15.15 and line 975 E15.15. In addition, hundreds of hectares of winter vegetables that had been sown and restored after storm No. 8 were now crushed and severely damaged. Estimated damage was up to billions of VND. After the storm passed, on the morning of October 1, the District Flood and Storm Prevention and Control Steering Committee and the routes, agencies, units, communes and towns instructed people to focus on cleaning up, collecting, pruning and clearing fallen trees, and directed the Electricity sector to mobilize forces to quickly fix the problem, so that by 10:00 a.m. on October 1, the entire power grid in the district was operational. As for agricultural production, along with organizing inspections, reviews and damage statistics, communes continued to mobilize farmers to dredge, clear sewers, drain water and prepare seeds, fertilizers and materials to overcome the consequences, speed up the winter crop production progress, striving to close the entire planned area by October 5.

PV-CTV Group