Early on the morning of November 19, Da Nang’s Military Command confirmed it had mobilized troops overnight to respond to a riverbank collapse in An Luong village (Duy Nghia commune).

Hours earlier, heavy upstream rainfall and surging floodwaters had triggered serious landslides along the riverbank, placing hundreds of homes in immediate danger.

Upon receiving the emergency alert, Colonel Tran Huu Ich, Commander of the Da Nang Military Command, swiftly issued deployment orders. Over 300 officers and soldiers were mobilized, with an additional 200 troops from Division 315 provided by Military Region 5.

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The An Luong riverbank severely eroded during the night. Photo: A.C

In less than an hour, more than 500 soldiers had reached the site and immediately began reinforcing the most vulnerable areas. At the time, fast-moving floodwaters were relentlessly undercutting the embankment’s foundation, threatening to collapse entire sections.

According to Da Nang’s Military Command, the forces divided into smaller teams to tackle weak points along the river. Using sandbags and steel cages, they worked tirelessly through the night in hazardous conditions. Soldiers took no real breaks, relying on water and bread as they battled the storm.

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Emergency forces rush to reinforce the embankment. Photo: A.C
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Soldiers use sandbags to shore up the weakened riverbank. Photo: A.C
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Racing against time to deliver sandbags. Photo: A.C

By 8:00 a.m. on November 19, the most critical sections had been temporarily stabilized. However, troops remained on site to monitor and further fortify areas at high risk of collapse.

The Da Nang Military Command is currently coordinating with local authorities and technical agencies to assess long-term risks and propose both engineering and non-structural solutions to protect An Luong from future extreme weather events.

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Soldiers and local residents join forces to defend the community from the river’s edge. Photo: A.C

Ngo Van Hai, head of An Luong village, expressed heartfelt gratitude: “Even in the dead of night, the city’s military and regional forces marched in to support us and strengthen the embankment. The people of An Luong are deeply thankful.”

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Troops remain at the scene, continuing inspection and reinforcement. Photo: T.V

Just weeks earlier, in late October, over 500 meters of the An Luong embankment had been destroyed during a severe flood, prompting continuous emergency reinforcement efforts.

On November 12, Da Nang authorities officially declared a state of emergency after the riverbank was once again ravaged - posing a direct threat to more than 500 families living along the Thu Bon River.

Ha Nam