On the afternoon of July 9, information from the Vietnam Road Administration said that heavy rain lasting from July 5 to 9 caused landslides on many national highways and local roads in Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces. The road sector is mobilizing maximum manpower and machinery to urgently overcome incidents and ensure safe traffic.
According to the Vietnam Road Administration, immediately after heavy rain and thunderstorms occurred in the northern mountainous provinces, the unit directed Road Management Zone I and road management units to urgently collect soil and rocks, trees overflowing the road surface, and at the same time coordinate with local authorities to implement solutions to respond to and overcome the consequences of natural disasters.
As of 7:00 AM on July 9, on the national highway system managed by Road Management Zone I, National Highway 6 recorded 11 traffic jam points, including 10 landslide points and one flooded point.
Among the affected points, landslides occurred at locations Km396+600, Km398+770, Km399+280, Km399+330, Km408+870, Km409+050, Km413+600, Km436+010, Km463+740 and Km465+650. Construction units are mobilizing manpower and machinery to collect soil and rocks, clear trees, and are expected to open traffic on July 9.
At the Km387 underground spillway area on National Highway 6, the water level rose, causing traffic obstruction. The road management unit has organized a temporary road ban and monitored the water level developments to ensure safety before allowing vehicles to circulate again.
Notably, the section of National Highway 6 through Huoi Long Pass, from Km405+750 to Km409+250, continuously experienced positive taluy landslides, rocks fell and mud and soil spilled onto the road surface, posing a potential risk of traffic unsafety.
From 10:30 am on July 8, the road management unit coordinated with the Traffic Police Department of Dien Bien Provincial Police and the Civil Defense Board of Muong Mun commune to organize a temporary road ban, and at the same time divert vehicles through other routes.
Not only on the national highway system, heavy rain also caused landslides of positive and negative slopes on National Highway 4H, National Highway 12 and many local roads managed by the Department of Construction of Dien Bien province, causing traffic jams in 5 locations. Up to now, all of these points have been overcome, ensuring traffic flow.
In Lai Chau province, landslides occurred on National Highway 32 and Provincial Road 128. The landslide point at Km339+070 on National Highway 32 has been cleared for traffic. On Provincial Road 128, the landslide point at Km17+200 has been handled, ensuring traffic flow, while two locations of negative taluy landslides at Km9+330 and Km9+450 have been planted with warning signs to ensure safe traffic for vehicles.
The locations that were once cut off in Lai Chau province have now been temporarily opened to traffic.
The Vietnam Road Administration said that the unit will continue to closely monitor weather developments, direct units to maintain forces and vehicles on duty at the scene to promptly handle arising incidents, ensuring smooth and safe traffic on roads affected by heavy rain.
