Hanoi: Flood victims flee alluvial plains, digging village restless

The circulation of storm No. 10 caused prolonged heavy rain, combined with the release of floodwaters from several hydroelectric reservoirs, causing the Red River section passing through Hanoi to rise, submerging many mid-flat and alluvial areas. Water flooded the Nhat Tan peach growing area, causing heavy damage.

On October 2, although the rain had stopped and the sun was quite harsh, at lane 76 An Duong (in Hong Ha ward), the section connecting to the middle of the Red River was still flooded with more than 1 meter of water, causing many households living here to have a hard time.

While struggling to clean up and salvage the belongings floating in the water, Mr. Le Tuan Xinh (67 years old), a local resident, said that last year, Typhoon Yagi caused heavy rain and strong winds, and this area was also flooded, but the water did not rise as fast as the recent Typhoon No. 10. In just one morning on October 1, the water rose nearly 1 meter, causing many of us households to not have time to pack up our belongings to avoid the flood.

In the boarding house area near the riverbank behind Long Bien market, the scene of living “following the tide” once again recurred. People hurriedly packed up their jacks, moved their refrigerators, beds, televisions, and motorbikes to the attic or left them at the homes of acquaintances.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoa (41 years old, in Hong Ha ward) shared: “The heavy rain after storm No. 10 has turned our daily lives upside down. In just one night, the water level at the foot of Long Bien bridge was 2-3m high, almost reaching the tops of the trees. On the inside of the bank, the water level was also higher than half a person. We had to stay alert all night to both escape the flood and move the elderly, children and belongings to a safe place, just hoping that the water would recede quickly so that people could clean up and soon stabilize their lives.”

Not only affecting the residence, production and business activities, the rising water level of the Red River also submerged many areas of flower growing and ornamental gardens of high economic value in the alluvial plains along the river. Many ornamental gardens of people in Phu Thuong and Nhat Tan peach villages and Tu Lien kumquat villages were partially flooded by the rising water level. Some peach growers said that the period of September - October is very important for the growth of the trees, but if flooded, the trees will be stunted, lose leaves and rot the roots.

“To have a peach tree with many flowers and buds for the Lunar New Year, we have to spend a whole year meticulously taking care of it, but just one big flood, with water rising and causing flooding for 3-4 days, all our efforts can come to nothing,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuat (65 years old, a resident of Nhat Tan peach village) when her family’s more than 2 hectares of peach trees were flooded.

A peach garden in Nhat Tan ( Hanoi ) was flooded.

For many households here, peach and kumquat trees are the main source of income, but they are really worried when the fruits of their labor and their main source of income are becoming unstable, even at risk of being lost due to floods.

“The river water rose so quickly that we had no time to react. Today the rain has stopped, we just hope the flood recedes quickly so we can save the trees, otherwise we will suffer a lot of economic damage because last year we suffered because of Typhoon Yagi,” said Nguyen Hung Anh, a peach garden owner in Hong Ha ward.

Many people have equipped themselves with temporary boats and rafts to move around their homes. They use planks and bamboo fences to make temporary bridges to connect their homes to the dike, creating a safe path. Local authorities have also promptly taken measures to support people, closely monitoring the development of floods and warning of the risk of landslides.

In particular, the functional forces of Hanoi City Police have coordinated with the People's Committee of Hong Ha Ward to organize many activities to support fishermen living in the area of ​​Long Bien Bridge, Chuong Duong, Vinh Tuy, such as: guiding people to safely anchor boats, securing houses, supporting necessities for nearly 30 households living along the Red River to help people feel secure and stabilize their lives during storms.

On October 2, the Hanoi People's Committee issued a document directing the city's functional units to urgently and synchronously implement solutions to promptly overcome the flooding caused by the impact of storm No. 10 in the city.

The Hanoi People's Committee assigned the Department of Construction to direct units that maintain and repair the drainage system in the city to mobilize 100% of personnel, machinery, equipment and have plans to immediately clear flooded areas, especially in urban areas and key areas; operate at maximum capacity the existing drainage works, including pumping stations: Yen So, Dong Bong 1, Dong Bong 2, Co Nhue, Dong Tru to lower the water level on the system in accordance with regulations.

The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment closely coordinates with the Department of Construction in the coordination and regulation of the urban drainage system with the agricultural drainage system, ensuring connectivity and continuity; directing companies to maintain and repair the irrigation system to have plans to operate at maximum capacity the agricultural drainage pumping stations (Yen Nghia, Khe Tang, Ngoai Do, Van Dinh, Dong La, etc.) to ensure continuous and safe drainage to the Nhue River.

NGUYEN QUOC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ha-noi-nguoi-dan-bai-boi-chay-lu-lang-dao-dung-ngoi-khong-yen-post816062.html