Urgently increased emergency demand
At the 115 Emergency Center under Khanh Hoa General Hospital, medical staff are mobilized to the maximum to meet the sudden increase in emergency demand. The center uses 4 ambulances operating continuously and increases the number of on-duty staff to 9, double the normal number.
During the two peak days, the Center received and treated more than 50 out-of-hospital emergency cases, all of whom were safely transferred to Khanh Hoa General Hospital for further treatment.
As the final unit of the provincial health sector, Khanh Hoa General Hospital immediately activated an emergency response plan, mobilizing maximum human resources in all departments, especially the Emergency Department, doubling the number of soldiers. The hospital also established an online consultation regime with medical facilities in the area to provide professional support for isolated locations.
Doctor Nguyen Luong Ky - Deputy Director of the hospital - said: "We predict that the number of patients will increase when the authorities evacuate people from deeply flooded areas. All departments have been asked to increase human resources and arrange two duty rounds to be ready to support. All patients coming for treatment are exempt from hospital fees, and their families are given free meals to feel secure in treatment".
According to preliminary statistics, the entire Khanh Hoa health sector has received and treated nearly 200 cases of flood victims. Currently, 3 medical facilities including Dien Khanh General Hospital, the Provincial Tropical Diseases Hospital and the Provincial Mental Health Hospital are still isolated. The Department of Health has directed the provision of necessities and professional support to maintain operations for these units.
The army and people are united
From the night of November 19 to the night of November 20, hundreds of Navy soldiers and water specialists were reinforced to the Cai River route. Mr. Ly Quoc Tuan - Logistics Assistant of Brigade 957 (navy Region 4) - said that the force brought many specialized vehicles such as motor boats, buoys and high-chassis trucks to suit the narrow terrain and fast-flowing water.
The rescue teams are divided into small pieces, approaching many hot spots at the same time. "We coordinate smoothly with local forces, trying our best to get people out of the danger zone. However, the large water and strong currents caused difficulties for small-capacity boats" - Mr. Tuan shared.
According to preliminary statistics, floods have killed 14 people and left 1 person missing in Khanh Hoa. Many mountainous and low-lying areas were completely cut off, and authorities could not reach them. From November 16 to now, the whole province has recorded 54 communes and wards with 162 flooded spots; hundreds of households in Tay Nha Trang, Nam Nha Trang, Dien Khanh and Dien Dien need to be urgently evacuated.
Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Tran Phong said: "The forces have mobilized people to get out of the danger zone and provided food and provisions. The fireworks and rafts must be mobilized to the maximum. Vehicles and human resources were urgently arranged, along with transferred funds to provide essential necessities to the people.
The historic flood not only caused heavy damage but also brightened up the spirit of mutual love. Fisherman Huynh Van Truong (Nha Trang ward) has been wading through silver water for the past 3 days to join the rescue support force. "We, the young men of Cua Be beach village, went to the flooded area to save people. The basket boat and the strong water sometimes swept away all 4 people, but thinking the children were hungry and soaked in water, we swam in to rescue them.
In addition to rescue work, in recent days, dozens of trucks carrying bread, instant noodles, bottled water and medicine have been gathered on Vo Nguyen Giap Avenue, the section across Quan Truong Bridge (Nam Nha Trang Ward). Many tourists from Ho Chi Minh City, who were stuck due to floods, also contributed to buying necessities and hired vehicles to transport them to deeply flooded neighborhoods.
People in Nam Nha Trang ward voluntarily contributed money and cooked thousands of hot meals for rescue forces to deliver to households. Mr. Elier Odio Barrera from Cuba, despite his language difference, participated in supporting the transfer of goods and rescue: "I see flooding, I want to help people here, I only know what I can support."
Amidst the silver water, these simple but noble actions are like a "mental buoy", helping Khanh Hoa people overcome difficulties.
