PANO – Thousands of troops have been braving danger to assist victims of the heaviest downpour in the past 40 years in the Northern province of Quang Ninh.

The General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army issued a telegram to instruct units to help local residents overcome the consequences of floods, landslides and rough seas.

Border troops support tourists on Co To Island.

Previously, the only road leading to Residential Quarter 34, Area 3, Cao Xanh ward, Ha Long city, had been blocked by landslides. Immediately, hundreds of officers and soldiers from the Quang Ninh provincial Military Command and Division 395 of Military Zone 3 were mobilized and rushed to the scene to open a new exit for locals and evacuate 30 families and their property to a safe site.

In order to support people to repair damage caused by torrential rains, the command mobilized nearly 1,000 troops to dredge mud and soil at residential areas and roads in Ha Long city, as well as to provide food to flood-hit victims in Van Don district.

On July 30th, the Dong Bac Corporation under the Ministry of National Defence sent about 500 troops and dozens of vehicles to clear roads.

Over recent days, soldiers of Brigade 242 of Military Zone 3 and Naval Brigade 147 have been on standby in flood stricken areas and sites hit by landslides in Ban Sen commune (Van Don district) and some wards of Cam Pha city.

On Co To Island, heavy rains and high seas forced over 1,500 tourists to head to shore. Vessels were not allowed to leave harbor. Many shops and Co To Market ran out of goods. In the face of this situation, the Navy assigned ship HQ-634 of Brigade 170 to take the tourists ashore.

Additionally, the soldiers are ready to support local residents in need as the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorology Forecast said that prolonged heavy rains could continuously hit Quang Ninh province and sweep through other northeastern provinces.

These meaningful assistances by troops to disaster-affected people in the province have beautified the virtue of Uncle Ho’s soldiers in the new context.

Translated by Pham Huy