Warning from cardiovascular routes
Speaking to Lao Dong on the morning of November 21, Mr. Le Quang Vinh - Director of Phu Khanh Railway Exploitation Branch - said that the about 100m long railway section in the Nha Trang - Cay Cay (Khanh Hoa) section has been seriously damaged by continuous floods for many days. According to Mr. Vinh, heavy rain combined with strong floodwaters caused strong erosion, blowing away the entire roadbed, causing the railway to be "suspended" floating in the air. This situation makes it impossible to organize train trips through the route.
National Highway 1, the traffic artery connecting North and South, is also not out of the situation of flooding. The provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa witnessed many sections of road being deeply flooded, seriously affecting the circulation of goods and people. Traffic diversion plans were urgently deployed by the Department of Roads, but the situation was still very tense when thousands of vehicles were stuck in deeply flooded areas.
Efforts to restore traffic
The disruption of traffic has caused difficulties not only for people's lives but also affected production and business activities. The heart of these regions, including ports, industrial zones and international border gates, is facing a "break" in supply chains. The amount of goods cannot be circulated, seriously affecting the economy.
The current urgent solution is to quickly restore main traffic routes. The railway industry has implemented emergency measures such as reinforcing railways, increasing human resources and machinery to repair damaged railway sections. Major bridges have also been temporarily protected by train cars, helping to reduce the impact of the increased flow.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Vuong - Deputy General Director, Vietnam Railway Corporation - said: In the past three months, the railway industry has been continuously affected by storms and post-storm circulation. Storms No. 11 and 13 caused widespread heavy rain, causing many sections of the railway to collapse, and we had to cancel dozens of trains.
In particular, the widespread heavy rain in the South Central region lasted from Dieu Tri to Thap Cham, more than 300km, on November 18, 19 and 20. This rain caused flooding and damage to many sections of railways and stations.
Currently, we have stopped and canceled dozens of trains. We recorded the two most serious slides at km1338, Cay Cay - Hoa Tan section, washing away the roadbed by 15m, 4m deep. The second section is at km1228 in the Hao Son - Dai Lanh section, where the slope of the positive slope collapsed and rocks and soil fell onto the roadbed with a length of about 50m" - Mr. Vuong said.
As an immediate solution, according to Mr. Vuong, to protect important works from the risk of insecurity, the railway industry has taken measures to increase the bridge's protection by loading and unloading carriages on the bridge, the main purpose of which is to increase static load. This increase in static load helps to withstand the push-up force of water flow affecting the knees and bridge girders. This measure has been implemented very effectively and most recently at Bac Giang bridge during storm No. 11 in early October, this measure has also maintained the bridge very effectively.
In Khanh Hoa, the provincial government has taken temporary measures such as banning traffic at Ngoc Hoi roundabout and limiting the load on bridges to ensure safety for people and vehicles. In particular, when floods continue, traffic diversion and travel guidance plans are being implemented by the Vietnam Road Administration to reduce traffic pressure and limit congestion.
Without interrupting the economic development of the region, timely relief for people
It is undeniable that transportation is the mach of life not only in rescue but also in economic activities. In the context of continuous floods, restoring traffic is an urgent requirement to not break the foundation for economic development. In particular, a quick restoration of traffic artery will ensure relief goods and support people in flooded areas.
Provinces such as Gia Lai and Dak Lak, where many industrial parks are located, rely on these transport routes to transport raw materials and goods. The long-term traffic congestion will cause factories to stop operations, goods to stagnate, causing great economic damage.
Especially in the context of green transformation, factories need to transport raw materials for renewable energy production. If traffic conditions are not restored quickly, sustainable development plans will face difficulties.
Not only in the emergency period, but in the long term, authorities also need to implement measures to ensure the sustainability of the transportation system.
The construction of permanent road and bridge works, reinforcement of vulnerable routes, and the active application of flood monitoring technology and early warnings will help key areas not to be paralyzed in the following floods.
Moreover, relevant agencies need to consider repairing and reinforcing degraded works, especially areas prone to landslides and flooding. The government also needs to have a long-term plan to build flexible and sustainable connecting transportation systems.
Transportation is not only a bridge between localities, but also a foundation for economic development of the whole region. The rapid restoration of vital routes is an essential condition to maintain economic development here.
Dak Lak Provincial Party Secretary directly commands rescue
On November 21, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Dak Lak Provincial Party Committee Luong Nguyen Minh Triet directly commanded the rescue in Phu Phong village, Hoa Thinh commune. At the scene, Mr. Luong Nguyen Minh Triet requested to focus maximum means and human resources to rescue people as a top priority task, while quickly organizing the transportation of food and drinking water to provide to households facing difficulties.
Leaders of the General Department of Politics visit and present gifts to people in flooded areas
On the morning of November 21, Senior Lieutenant General Truong Thien To - Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) - and his working delegation visited and presented gifts to people in flooded areas in Quy Nhon Dong and Quy Nhon Bac wards. Accompanying him was Major General Luong Dinh Chung - Political Commissar of Military Region 5.
In Quy Nhon Dong ward, Quy Nhon Bac - Senior Lieutenant General Truong Thien To kindly visited and shared the difficulties and losses caused by floods.
On this occasion, the working delegation of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army presented 100 gifts to support people who suffered heavy losses due to floods in Quy Nhon Dong and Quy Nhon Bac wards. Each gift includes 2 million VND in cash and necessities.
