Head of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee directs response to heavy rain and floods

On the morning of October 7, the Head of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 13/CD-BCĐ-BNNMT on proactively responding to heavy rain and floods caused by storm No. 11.

Mai Phuc Street, Phuc Loi Ward ( Hanoi ) is deeply flooded. Photo: Thanh Phuong/VNA

Telegrams sent to the People's Committees of the provinces and cities: Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hung Yen and Ninh Binh; Ministries: National Defense, Public Security, Agriculture and Environment, Construction, Industry and Trade; Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam .

Accordingly, due to the influence of storm No. 11, on the night of October 6 and early morning of October 7, the Northern region and Thanh Hoa had moderate rain, heavy rain, and very heavy rain in some places; especially in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh , Hanoi and Thanh Hoa, there was heavy to very heavy rain. The rainfall from 7:00 p.m. on October 6 to 6:00 a.m. on October 7 was locally over 200mm in some places, such as: Hoa Thuong station (Thai Nguyen) 437.6mm, Bo Ha station (Bac Ninh) 250.4mm.

It is forecasted that from October 7 to 10, floods on Cau River, Thuong River, Luc Nam River and rivers in Cao Bang, Lang Son Province and other rivers in the North will continue to rise. The flood peak on Cau River, Thuong River, Luc Nam River will exceed alert level 3 (possibility of exceptionally large floods on these rivers); rivers in Lang Son, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh Provinces will rise to alert level 2 - alert level 3 and above alert level 3; Thao River (Lao Cai), Lo River (Tuyen Quang) will rise to alert level 1 - alert level 2 and above alert level 2; floods reaching Hoa Binh Lake, Hoang Long River (Ninh Binh), and the lower reaches of the Red River in Hanoi will rise above alert level 1.

To proactively respond to heavy rain and floods, the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense requests ministries, branches and People's Committees of provinces and cities to strictly implement the contents of Official Dispatch No. 188/CD-TTg dated October 6, 2025 of the Prime Minister on proactively responding to heavy rain, floods, flash floods, and landslides caused by storm No. 11.

Provinces and cities closely monitor the development of floods and rains; promptly inform authorities at all levels and people to proactively prevent and avoid; proactively organize the relocation and emergency evacuation of people in low-lying areas, riverside areas with high risk of flooding, areas with high risk of landslides to safe places; closely monitor the development of flood water levels on river banks and the situation of dikes; practically deploy dike protection plans, protect key areas of weak dikes, locations where incidents have occurred but have not been handled or repaired, and unfinished dike works to ensure safety; strengthen inspection work on dike routes, strictly carry out patrolling and guarding to protect dikes during the rainy and flood season, promptly detect and handle incidents and situations that may occur from the first hour.

Provinces and cities are ready with human resources, materials, vehicles and equipment to protect the dikes according to the "4 on-site" principle, ensuring the safety of the dikes; organizing forces to guard, control, support and guide to ensure safe traffic for people and vehicles, especially at culverts, spillways, deep flooded areas, fast-flowing water areas, areas where landslides have occurred or are at risk of landslides; resolutely not allowing people and vehicles to pass if safety is not ensured, not allowing unfortunate human losses due to carelessness and subjectivity; arranging forces, materials and vehicles to overcome incidents, ensuring smooth traffic on main traffic routes when heavy rain and flooding occur.

Localities proactively take measures to respond to floods, especially urban floods and residential areas; prepare rescue forces and vehicles to respond when requested; direct local radio and television stations to increase information on rain and flood developments to people and authorities at all levels to proactively prevent; specialized agencies coordinate with local television stations and media agencies, especially at the grassroots level, to propagate, disseminate and guide people to proactively respond to minimize damage. At the same time, organize serious on-duty shifts and regularly report to the National Civil Defense Steering Committee (through the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).

On the same day, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued Document No. 755/BNNMT-DD to the People's Committees of the provinces and cities of Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong on ensuring the safety of the dike system and responding to exceptionally large floods on the Cau River, Thuong River, and Luc Nam River.

Accordingly, currently, due to the impact of heavy rain, floods on Cau River, Thuong River, Luc Nam River are rising rapidly. According to the forecast of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the flood peak on the rivers will exceed warning level 3, with the possibility of particularly large floods on these rivers. To ensure the safety of the dike system, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct relevant agencies and units to urgently and closely monitor the development of flood water levels on river banks and the situation of dikes; deploy in practice dike protection plans, protect key areas of important dikes, locations where incidents have occurred but have not been handled or repaired, and unfinished dike works to ensure safety. In particular, pay special attention to dike sections close to rivers, which are often pushed up, leaked, and eroded during floods, and weak, damaged culverts on dike routes.

Provinces and cities must strengthen inspection work on dike routes, strictly carry out patrolling and guarding work to protect dikes during the rainy and flood season according to the provisions of Circular No. 01/2009/TT-BNN dated January 6, 2009 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), promptly detect and handle incidents and situations that may occur from the first hour. Be responsible before the law if there is an insecurity of the dike system due to failure to carry out patrolling and guarding work according to the provisions of law.

Localities must prepare human resources, materials, vehicles, and equipment to protect dikes according to the "4 on-site" principle, ensuring safety for dike routes, and promptly report dike incidents to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (through the Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention and Control) for coordination and direction.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/truong-ban-chi-dao-phong-thu-dan-su-quoc-gia-chi-dao-ung-pho-voi-mua-lu-lon-20251007101840212.htm