The night-long rescue
In the early morning of October 30, the functional forces of Tra Tan commune (Da Nang city) coordinated with Military Region 5 to complete a special journey: After being evacuated from 3 victims of traumatic brain injuries due to landslides, traveling more than 20km of the landslide on a cold and rainy night, and bringing them to the Bac Tra My Regional Medical Center safely.
Previously, on the afternoon of October 29, the Commune Health Station, Facility 2 (old Tra Giac) received 5 buried victims, of which 3 had serious prognosis. Power outage area, waves are unstable; the station only has large oxygen tanks, unable to move with patients. At 8:30 p.m., an ambulance from the regional Medical Center carrying a handful of oxygen cylinders arrived at the headquarters of the People's Committee of Tra Tan commune. At 9:05 p.m., the 8-person front line (commune police, militia, medical team, youth team) brought oxygen and opened the road to overcome the landslide to the station. At 10:30 p.m., the two patients were given oxygen on a ventilator and the transportation plan was agreed upon. At 5:50 p.m., the first group of more than 20 people set off, using 3 saws to carry 3 victims through more than 10 landslides, mud to the knees, some sections had to be close to the edge of the abyss in heavy rain; rocks and soil from the positive slope could collapse at any time.
At the same time, the second group with more than 30 officers and soldiers departed from the Commune People's Committee, overcoming 3 more serious landslides. At 0:45 on October 30, the two groups met; At 1,15 they took the 3 victims to the gathering point of Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Area to hand over to the ambulances. 1:30 a.m., the task was completed, absolutely safe for both patients and the forces on duty.
"Dangerous and dangerous, but if there is only a ray of hope to save people's lives, we are determined not to give up" - Mr. Le Minh Chien - Chairman of Tra Tan Commune People's Committee - texted at 2:00 a.m., after completing the task of rescuing people.
The village was wiped out after just one fierce flood - there is hope for the people
In the middle of the night of October 28, the violent water suddenly rose, sweeping through Ong Yen peak (Tra Tan commune), sweeping away 11 houses along the mountainside. In the morning, where there was once a smoky roof, there was only a patch of mud, rotten wood and broken floors.
"Hearing the sound of cracked soil and then shouting, the whole village collapsed, flowing with the cloudy water. Fortunately, the people were evacuated first, said Mr. Nguyen Hong Lai - Secretary of the Tra Tan Commune Party Committee.
On National Highway 40B leading to the commune, many landslides are tens of meters deep; the water of the stream rolls red, mud overflows to the porch of the cultural house - where people are prosperous.
"Having people is a happy thing, but losing everything in the house", said Ms. Ho Thi Le, her eyes are still on the rubble - a place that was once home to four generations.
In neighboring Tra Leng, a giant hill collapsed, burying two houses in a huff. The house of Mr. Ho Van Linh - Commander of the Commune Military Command - was buried by rocks and soil from the positive slope while he and the militia were evacuating the people.
He took care of the people first, not his own house in time, Chairman of Chau Minh Nghia commune shared. The 270th Engineering Brigade leveled the rocks and soil, and built temporary accommodation for Mr. Linh's family and households who lost their homes.
When the water is large, there is no electricity, the phone signal is turned off, many mountainous communes are isolated. Military Region 5 mobilized more than 6,000 soldiers, mechanical vehicles, and telecommunications to the scene: opening the route, restoring communication, and providing timely rescue and relief. Amidst the rainforest and mud, the temporary collection and broadcasting stations were quickly built.
Restoration of information is an order, but safety is paramount, Lieutenant Colonel Dang Thanh Binh, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Brigade, told the soldiers before leaving. When the "wave" was reopened, images from landslides and deep flooding in Tra Leng and Tra Tan were transmitted to the Command Department, helping to move motor vehicles to the right place, saving the elderly and children trapped.
The Da Nang Military Command also mobilized nearly 6,200 officers and soldiers to coordinate with the Police, Border Guard, and local authorities to evacuate people from flooded and landslide areas; boats, canoes, and thousands of meals and drinks soaked in the rushing water, bringing instant noodles, dry food, and filtered water to each isolated household.
Floods recede slowly, priority is given to relief in isolated areas
By October 30, the rain had stopped, and the water level on the rivers in Da Nang and neighboring areas began to decrease slowly.
According to the hydrometeorological agency, in the next 12-24 hours, the downstream of Vu Gia - Thu Bon will continue to fluctuate from below to above alert level 2; Cau Lau - Hoi An will continue to around alert level 3; Tam Ky river will return to alert level 1. The cloud pockets off the coast of Quang Ngai - Hue will weaken, intermittent rain, and sometimes sunny weather - favorable conditions for drainage, relief, and cleaning.
As of the afternoon of October 30, Da Nang recorded 7 deaths and 21 injuries; 50 collapsed houses, 94 damaged houses; 10 completely isolated communes, 29 communes and wards were deeply flooded, more than 67,000 households were submerged in water. Nearly 5,000 households with 16,000 people have been safely evacuated.
Directing at the scene, Party Central Committee member and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested to ensure food, clean water, and medicine for flooded areas; deploy environmental disinfection spraying immediately after the water recedes; at the same time, review all key coastal areas, 28 mountainous communes and major landslides to build a long-term disaster prevention model - "not only overcoming the consequences, but also living safely with natural disasters".
