On the night of September 29, prolonged heavy rain combined with water from upstream caused flooding in many areas along the Red River, 2-4 m, affecting 5,034 households, 19 main roads were deeply flooded, and more than 600 people had to be urgently evacuated to safety.
After more than a day of flooding, by around 5am on October 1, the water on the streets of Yen Bai Ward (Lao Cai) had receded rapidly. People and authorities have urgently started cleaning up their houses and streets after the flood.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Phung Tien Thanh, Chairman of Yen Bai Ward People's Committee - said that after the water receded, mud and garbage were swept away into people's houses due to floods, there were many public works, so people on Thanh Nien Street, Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Yet Kieu Street... are actively cleaning their houses.
With experience in responding to floodwaters many times, people go wherever the water recedes, carrying mud and soil along the water. Ms. Hoang Thuy Van (on Hoang Hoa Tham Street) said: "The mud is cleared as the water recedes. If we don't wait until it dries, it will destroy the whole house".
At the same time, the people added that because they have been used to flooding for many years, when the storm and flood come, the people will be on duty at home to be ready to clean up.
According to the reporter's records, on Thanh Nien Street (this is considered the deepest flooded spot because it is near the Red River), the water has now receded, people have returned home to clean up mud and soil, preparing to bring their belongings and assets home.
On Yet Kieu Street, mud and garbage flooded the streets, people and authorities joined hands to clean up. Garbage and mud were inundated up to half a meter deep, making the cleaning work difficult.
Together with the people, functional forces from the army, police, militia, youth unions... gathered hundreds of people divided into many groups, coordinating together to each alley and stream to support people to overcome the consequences of floods.
Lieutenant Colonel Dao Quang Hung, Deputy Chief of Staff, Lao Cai Provincial Military Command, also said that the unit mobilized more than 350 officers and soldiers to divide into 8 working groups to all flooded areas of the old Yen Bai province (now Lao Cai province) to ensure the stability of people's lives as soon as possible.
In addition, machinery vehicles, trucks, road rollers, and coaches have been mobilized to scrap the 30-40 cm thick layer of mud on central roads for traffic and people to operate again.
