Proactively respond to and overcome the consequences of natural disasters in mountainous areas

The project to stabilize the population for households in Muong village, Trung Ha commune is being urgently constructed.

The area of 76 communes in 11 mountainous districts was previously at high risk of being affected by natural disasters such as floods, landslides, storms, lightning, etc. This is also considered the area most vulnerable to natural disasters compared to other areas in the province. The cause of this situation is believed to be due to increasingly severe climate change, complicated and unpredictable rain and flood situations. Meanwhile, this area has complex terrain, steep slopes, many rivers and streams. People's houses are not solid, mainly roofed with corrugated iron and bro-cement, so they are easily blown off and damaged by natural disasters.

In fact, in recent years, especially due to the impact of storms No. 3 and No. 4 in September 2024, there have been many landslides and rockfalls in mountainous areas, causing great property damage. Most recently, floods after storm No. 5 caused serious damage in Yen Nhan and Bat Mot communes, destroying 180 houses and causing serious landslides on many roads... Storms and rains also caused landslides in the residential area at the foot of Phong Khong hill, Linh Son commune, directly threatening the safety of life, health and property of about 20 households living at the foot of the hill.

In order to continue proactively responding to natural disasters in 2025, in addition to advising the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to promptly announce emergency natural disaster situations, the Irrigation Sub-Department has proactively advised the Head of the Provincial Civil Defense Command on plans and carried out inspections, supervision, and guidance for localities in implementing disaster prevention, control, and overcoming consequences. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Head of the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Climate Change, Irrigation Sub-Department, before July 1, the sub-department advised the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment to report to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to direct and guide communes and wards to proactively perform tasks within their authority, not to stagnate or interrupt disaster prevention and control work after the local government at two levels comes into operation.

In that spirit, immediately after completing the organizational structure, many communes in mountainous areas have urgently deployed tasks according to the provisions of the law on natural disaster prevention and control. In particular, they have proactively reviewed vulnerable areas, developed plans and plans to mobilize forces, means, logistics, and proactively responded to each natural disaster situation that occurred. For example, in Na Meo commune, before storm No. 3 and storm No. 5 made landfall, the commune government urgently built temporary shelters and proactively planned to evacuate all 55 households with 220 people living in Cha Khot village to a safe place. This is an area with serious landslides, and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee declared an emergency situation in October 2024. In addition, the commune has organized the installation of warning signs in areas at high risk of landslides so that people know and avoid them.

Secretary of the Na Meo Commune Party Committee Le Hong Quang said: In the context of the new government coming into operation, the workload is very large, but determining the task of ensuring the safety of people's lives, health and property is the top priority, first of all, the commune has focused on the leadership, direction and organization of storm response. In addition to being ready to evacuate people in high-risk areas to safe places and erect warning signs, the commune has proactively assigned forces to guard key areas to warn and strictly prohibit people and vehicles from passing. At the same time, proactively connecting and coordinating with departments and branches to complete the steps and procedures to urgently invest in disaster prevention and control projects.

In Trung Ha commune, implementing the plan approved by the competent authority, before storm No. 3 and storm No. 5 made landfall, the commune government urgently evacuated 39 households with 168 people in Muong village to a safe place. This is an area that has been declared an emergency situation due to natural disasters after storm No. 4 in 2024. In addition, the commune has proactively coordinated with relevant departments, branches and units to prepare conditions in terms of land, procedures and documents, and organized the groundbreaking of the project to stabilize the residents of Muong village.

According to Chairman of Trung Ha Commune People's Committee Lu Van Ha, the commune has requested the construction unit to urgently mobilize maximum human resources, vehicles, and equipment to focus on construction to ensure progress and quality of the project. The commune sets a goal of completing the project to stabilize the population of Muong village households before December 31, 2025, in order to urgently relocate Muong village households and some households living in areas at high risk of natural disasters in the area to a safe place.

The recent storms No. 3 and No. 5 have become a real test for the operations of the two-level local government. Head of the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Climate Change, Irrigation Sub-Department Nguyen Van Cuong said: Although there are still many difficulties in terms of facilities and equipment, while the workload is very large, after being put into operation, the communes and wards in the province in general, and the mountainous areas in particular, have urgently deployed and effectively implemented the work of preventing, combating and responding to natural disasters. Thereby, minimizing damage, ensuring the safety of people's lives, health and property.

Article and photos: Dong Thanh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chu-dong-ung-pho-khac-phuc-hau-qua-thien-tai-o-khu-vuc-mien-nui-260811.htm