Northern region heavy rain, urgently review areas at risk of flash floods and landslides

The National Steering Committee for Civil Defense has sent an official dispatch to 15 northern provinces and cities on proactively responding to heavy rain, floods, inundation, flash floods, landslides, tornadoes, lightning, and hail.

In recent days, heavy rain, flooding, flash floods and landslides have caused serious damage to people, houses and infrastructure in some northern mountainous provinces, especially Lai Chau province. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from the night of July 23 to July 25, the Northern region will have moderate to heavy rain, with a common total rainfall of 70-150mm, in some places over 250mm. In particular, the risk of heavy rain intensity over 100mm in 3 hours may cause flooding in low-lying areas, urban areas, and industrial parks; and at the same time increase the risk of flash floods on small rivers and streams and landslides in hilly areas.

To proactively respond, the Steering Committee requests localities to closely monitor forecasts and warnings of natural disasters; promptly inform local authorities and people to proactively take appropriate preventive measures. At the same time, urgently mobilize forces to overcome the consequences of the recent rain and floods, review high-risk areas, organize relocation and evacuation of people in riverside areas, streams, low-lying areas, areas at risk of deep flooding, flash floods and landslides to safe places.

Localities are also required to organize forces to guard, control and guide traffic in deeply flooded areas, underground, overflows, places where water flows strongly or landslides have occurred. Resolutely prevent people and vehicles from passing through when not ensuring safety; and at the same time arrange sufficient manpower, materials and vehicles to promptly overcome incidents and ensure traffic on key roads.

In addition, the Steering Committee requests inspection, review, and implementation of safety measures for tunnels, mineral exploitation furnaces, reservoirs and downstream areas, especially small hydropower reservoirs, small irrigation and critical reservoirs. Management units must arrange on-duty forces to operate, regulate and be ready to handle arising situations.

For dyke routes, localities need to review dyke protection plans, protect key locations, areas where incidents have occurred or are under construction; strengthen patrols and guards during the rainy and flood season to promptly detect and handle incidents right from the time they arise.

In addition, the Steering Committee proposed to promote information and propaganda work, especially through the grassroots information system to disseminate skills to respond to heavy rain, floods, inundation, flash floods, landslides, tornadoes, lightning and hail so that people can proactively prevent and minimize damage. Localities strictly implement duty shifts and regularly report the situation to the National Civil Defense Steering Committee.