Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 5 sent condolences to families of flood victims in central provinces and urged local authorities to provide relief to affected residents to ensure that none of them will suffer from thirst and starvation.
He asked Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces to relieve residents who have yet to evacuate from flood-hit areas, and vessels that have been in accidents on the sea.
The affected provinces were also ordered to cure the injured, bury the dead, and provide foods and water to residents in flooded areas.
The PM asked rescue centers of all levels to mobilize all of their staff and means to rescue victims.
Heave rains brought floods and landslides to the central provinces on October 5, killing 28 people.
Authorities of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri organized evacuation of 5,154 households from deeply-submerged and dangerous areas.
The National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Center said the center of a low pressure was 360 kilometers far from the coasts of Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue to the northeast at 1:00 pm on October 5.
The center forecast that heavy downpours are likely to continue in areas from Nghe An to Quang Tri due to the low pressure and strong winds from the northeast.
According to the center’s report, the water level on the La River in Linh Cam was 5.3 meters, 0.2 meter under the second warning level, while the water level on the Gianh River in Mai Hoa hit the third warning level of 6.5 meters, and that on the Kien Giang River in Le Thuy was 0.6 meter over the third warning level.
A report from Quang Binh Province said the water level at Ho Ho Hydroelectricity Dam in Tuyen Hoa District was 1 meter over its peak and at risk of breaching the dam.
Heavy downpours blocked roads in many areas and isolated Tuyen Hoa, Minh Hoa, Le Thuy and Quang Ninh districts.
In Ha Tinh Province, 18 landslides along Highway No.8A had occurred, blocking traffic and drainage systems in Huong Son District for hours.
Nearly 100 workers were mobilized to clear the roads and keep watch around the clock to ensure people's safety.
In Quang Tri Province, heavy rainfall destroyed 36 houses, seriously damaged two drainage systems and blocked main roads including Highway No.9 and Ho Chi Minh Road.
At least five fishing vessels have sunk and three fishermen are missing due to heavy rainfall and strong winds in Nghe An Province.
According to the Transportation Ministry, many parts of Ho Chi Minh Road were fallen down, with over 100,000 cubic meters of stone and land, and some parts were submerged in water, about one to two meters, causing severe traffic jams.
The ministry said floods submerged and caused landslide on many parts on highways including 12A, 9, 15 and 49.
On the same day, Nguyen The Thao, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, also sent condolences to the affected provinces for the loss of life and property in the flooding.
He said Hanoi’s people and organizations will donate over VND1 billion to each province to help them deal with floods and stabilize lives of residents.
Huynh Dang Linh, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee, said the city will contribute VND500 million to Thua Thien-Hue, and VND1 billion to each of the other provinces.
Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper will give Ha Tinh and Quang Binh VND50 million each, and has launched a relief program to call on donations for the central region.
)
