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| Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and the city leaders inspected the flood situation on Chi Lang Street (Phu Xuan Ward) |
Widespread flooding
At the working session, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee, Mr. Phan Thien Dinh, reported that this is one of the flood events with the largest intensity and rainfall in many years, severely affecting lives of people and urban infrastructure system. The flood peak on the Bo River this time has surpassed the level of the historic flood in 1999. On the Huong River, the flood peak is near the 1999 mark. This is a very special flood, rarely seen in decades.
Prolonged heavy rain caused the water levels on the Huong River and the Bo River to rise, overflow their banks, causing widespread flooding in 32 communes and wards, with many areas submerged 1 - 2m deep. More than 44,500 houses in the entire city were flooded, and many inner-city routes were cut off, with traffic almost paralyzed during the two peak days of the flood, on October 27 and October 28.
According to initial statistics, there was 1 person dead and 1 person missing. More than 201,000 households temporarily lost power, and 1,479 substations had to be disconnected power to ensure safety...
Response efforts implemented resolutely and synchronously
As early as October 26, Hue City People's Committee issued an urgent telegram, activating disaster prevention system at the city and grassroots levels, and assigning leaders to be in charge of key areas. Working groups from the City Party Committee, and the City People's Committee went directly to the grassroots to inspect and direct the response work, especially in low-lying areas.
As of the morning of October 28, 1,759 households with over 4,500 people in 32 communes and wards had been safely evacuated. Armed forces mobilized nearly 3,000 military officers and soldiers, and 2,000 police officers, along with thousands of militia, youth union members participating in evacuation of people, search and rescue, and traffic control.
The City People's Committee implemented a plan to stockpile goods for disaster prevention, ensuring essential goods for people in flooded areas. The education sector temporarily suspended classes from October 27 to ensure safety. Efforts on providing relief, supporting people's lives, restoring electricity, water, and sanitation were prioritized immediately after the water receded.
“No one should be passive, or taken by surprise during the flood”
Sharing sympathy for the heavy damage caused by the flood in Hue, Mr. Tran Hong Ha emphasized that this is a historic natural disaster, with rainfall and flood levels surpassing many previous records, profoundly affecting the spiritual life and assets of local people and authorities.
Highly appreciating the deployment of forces and means of response, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that despite most of the city being deeply flooded, Hue proactively implemented response scenarios, allocated forces reasonably, and controlled the situation. He also requested the locality to continue promoting this spirit, and to prepare better for complex flood developments that may last for the next 2 - 3 days.
“This is a period that tests the capacity of the two-tier local government model. It is necessary to re-evaluate the adaptive capacity, thereby building a mindset of sustainable development and safe coexistence with natural disasters,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Deputy Prime Minister also asked the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and mass organizations to closely coordinate in relief work, mobilize social resources, and join hands to help Hue people stabilize their lives soon after the flood.