Lao Cai struggles in flood waters

By 6am on September 30, many main roads in Yen Bai ward such as Nguyen Thai Hoc, Thanh Nien, Tran Hung Dao (formerly Hong Ha and Nguyen Thai Hoc wards) were submerged in water. Many sections were flooded over 1m deep, causing traffic to be completely paralyzed, forcing many households to move their belongings and evacuate urgently at night.

Lao Cai province traffic police used bamboo boats to help delegates attend the Provincial Party Congress on time. (Photo: THANH SON).

That very night, police forces, militia and Yen Bai ward officials were present at deeply flooded areas, setting up checkpoints and guiding people to move safely.

Tran Hung Dao Street, Yen Bai Ward submerged in flood water.

Due to the impact of storm No. 10, in the past 2 days, Lao Cai has had continuous heavy rain, causing the water levels of rivers to rise. In order to ensure the safety of dams, a series of hydroelectric plants on Chay River, Thia Stream, and Hut Stream... discharged floodwaters through the dams, causing the water level of the Red River to rise rapidly. By 8:00 a.m., the water level of the Red River had reached more than 34.3m, 2.3m above alert level 3 (the water level in 2024 due to historical storm Yagi was 35.73m), and the water level is still rising.

Army forces set off for the flooded Tran Yen area.

Faced with complicated developments, the Lao Cai Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue continuously issued warnings and sent forces to the grassroots to provide support.

Communes set up checkpoints to control roads at risk of landslides, and prepare vehicles and necessities for long-term evacuation.

Comrade Pham Tien Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Au Lau Ward, said that we have mobilized more than 100 households in low-lying areas to urgently move people and property to safety. The common spirit is not to leave any people behind.

The Yen Bai Station area was flooded, paralyzing the Hanoi-Lao Cai railway.

At Yen Bai Station, Mr. Do Trong Quang, Manager of Ha-Yen Locomotive Workshop, said that when the Red River floodwaters rose, we mobilized 100% of our staff to be on duty, immediately evacuating materials to higher ground to avoid flooding that caused damage like Typhoon Yagi in 2024. However, the water rose 1.5m above the rails, causing 3 locomotives to be submerged in water.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ha Van Tung, Head of Traffic Police Team No. 3, Lao Cai Provincial Police, is assisting people through the flooded area on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. He said: The unit used motorboats and bamboo boats to promptly bring the Central leaders and delegates of the province to attend the Provincial Party Congress on time. It is known that the Presidium of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Congress promptly shortened the congress time, so that the officials attending the congress could promptly return to the locality to join the people in preventing and fighting natural disasters.

Military officers participate in flood control command at Nam Cuong intersection.

Early in the morning, at Nam Cuong intersection, military units brought trucks carrying troops, promptly entering the low-lying areas of Tran Yen commune, where hundreds of households needed assistance to get out of the flood zone.

We will continue to inform in the following newsletters.

BUI CONG HAI

Source: https://nhandan.vn/lao-cai-gong-minh-trong-nuoc-lu-post911634.html