Heavy downpours and flooding over recent days have caused serious human and property damage in the mountainous provinces in the north, where Ha Giang and Lai Chau are suffering the most and are strengthening their efforts to overcome the consequences and stabilise people's lives.

Functional forces support local people in overcoming the aftermath of floods in Lai Chau.

In Ha Giang city, discharge from local hydroelectric reservoirs upstream on the Lo and Mien Rivers on June 24 led to a water level rise, inundating local residential areas, roads and gardens. The city has mobilised forces to evacuate local people and their properties to safe places, as well as harvesting crops. However, many households still suffer heavy losses.

Immediately after the floods and landslides occurred, Ha Giang authorities halted all meetings to focus on disaster response. Chairman of Ha Giang People's Committee, Nguyen Van Son, visited Quan Ba district to direct the effort, urging local units to mobilise forces to help the affected families.

Ha Giang Department of Transportation has instructed road management units to repair washed out roads and take measures to ensure traffic safety. By the end of June 25, key roads from Ha Giang’s centre to its districts were cleared.

Meanwhile, in Lai Chau province, amid devastating floods, rescue forces along with local people have concentrated their efforts to overcome the effects of the natural disaster. However, continuous heavy rains accompanied by heavy floods have caused traffic delays, making rescue work more difficult.

According to reports from Lai Chau’s Sin Ho district, 20 households in Nam Cay hamlet, Xa De Phin commune are still isolated due to a landslide. Local authorities had to organise rescue teams to transport relief to local people. They also sent working missions to encourage and provide financial support to suffering households.

In the district of Muong Te, estimated losses have been up to VND20 billion. Most of the roads in the district suffered from landslide, while many highland communes are still completely isolated. Local forces on June 25 moved 14 households in high risk areas to safer locations.

By the end of June 25, Tan Uyen district has transported 92 households living in dangerous areas to safe areas. The blockage caused by a landslide on National Highway No. 32 crossing Pac Ta commune was cleared at the end of June 25, making transport possible on the route from Lai Chau to Yen Bai and Hanoi.

Lai Chau authorities yesterday instructed functional forces to send 15 students in isolated Than Uyen district to exam venues to sit their ongoing national high school graduation exam. The competition organisation in other areas is progressing normally. However, the province still has nine contestants unable to reach exam venues due to landslides.

Nearly 5,500 students in Ha Giang were brought to exam venues on time in rubber boats and other transport means on June 25.

As of 5pm on Monday, the death toll from floods and landslides rose to 14 in the provinces of Ha Giang and Lai Chau, according to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Nhan Dan