According to the Hai Phong municipal People's Committee’s Steering Board for Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue, and Civil Defense, as of September 8, the storm claimed two lives, injured 40 people, damaged thousands of hectares of crops, downed 200 power poles, destroyed two mobile phone base transceiver stations, and caused extensive damages to houses and offices. The disruption of communications and power outage further exacerbated the situation.
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Troops clear fallen trees in Hai Phong city. |
Immediately after the storm passed, the Hai Phong municipal Military Command urgently deployed troops and militia, and self-defense force throughout the city to address the aftermath. As a regular unit stationed in the hardly-hit Do Son district, Regiment 50 also suffered significant material damages, yet it quickly reinforced the barracks and prioritized assisting local civilians. Specifically, under the direction of the Hai Phong city’s Military Command, the regiment, with the highest determination, mobilized 300 troops along with vehicles and materials to urgently support the affected population to stabilize their life, according to Lt. Col. Vu Xuan Kiem, Political Commissar of the regiment.
In Ngo Quyen district, the Hai Phong municipal Military Command mobilized troops to streets to coordinate with functional agencies to provide support to local people. Sr. Col. Pham Hong Thuat, Second-in-Command and Chief of Staff of the command, explained that after the storm, the unit directed troops and militiamen to help clear fallen trees, reinforcing roofs, and repairing damaged public facilities.
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Troops assist locals in repairing damage facilities. |
To ensure combat readiness before and after the storm, the command maintained the maximum number of on-duty troops, many of whom had put aside their personal and family stuff to stay at the unit, ready to assist local people. Among them was Lt. Col. Nguyen Dinh San, an assistant of the Division of Political Affairs, who is living with his wife and two children in Kien An district, Hai Phong city. Due to his duties, San could not be at home with his family when the storm hit. As the mobile and power networks throughout the city were down, he could not contact home, only heard that his house had its roof completely torn off, and many items were damaged at noon on September 8.
Nguyen Thi Cuc, a resident of Luong Khanh Thien street, Cau Dat ward, Ngo Quyen district, expressed gratitude for the troops’ efforts. The woman, like many of her neighbors, was terrified by the storm’s intensity. After the storm subsided, trees and corrugated iron lay scattered in front of Cuc’s house. She was deeply touched with the deed of local troops as in the morning, despite the ongoing rain and strong wind, they were already present to help locals clean up streets. Thanks to the help of the soldiers, the locals' life was quickly stabilized after the severe storm, shared Cuc.
Translated by The Minh