Staying close to the people
Ahead of the storm, more than 400 officers and soldiers from Division 2 quickly moved to coastal areas of Gia Lai and Dak Lak to help locals secure boats, relocate fish cages, reinforce houses, and evacuate residents from high-risk areas.
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MR 5's leaders present gifts to Canh Tien villager in Canh Vinh commune, Gia Lai province. |
Col. Nguyen Long Vong, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Division 2, emphasized that disaster prevention and response are combat missions in peacetime. The division has strengthened training, equipment, and coordination with local forces, ensuring rapid deployment when needed. Despite working in harsh field conditions with heavy workloads and exposure to difficult and hazardous environments, all officers and soldiers have upheld a strong sense of responsibility and determination to excellently fulfill their assigned tasks.
Meanwhile, Engineering Brigade 270 evacuated over 1,000 residents from flood zones, cleared landslides along National Highway 40B, transported relief goods, and provided emergency aid to victims in Tra Lan and Tra Leng communes of Da Nang city. Col. Ton That Tuong, Second-in-Command and Chief of Staff of the brigade, noted that the unit had detailed plans for floods, landslides, and heavy rains, ensuring readiness in all scenarios.
Effective implementation of “Four-on-the-spot” motto
Although the storm lasted only a few hours, it left severe destruction across Gia Lai province with tens of thousands of homes damaged and major infrastructure crippled.
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Troops from Regiment 1 of Division 2 clear fallen trees on key streets of Quy Nhon ward, Gia Lai province. |
Sr. Col. Nguyen The Vinh, Commander of the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command, shared that local forces had mapped all fishing vessels, directed people to safe shelters, and set up forward command posts led by the military. Troops were deployed to reinforce houses, clear blocked roads, and assist evacuations.
Troops from Division 2, Brigades 772, 573, 575, the National Military Training Center No.2, and Division 31 under Army Corps 34 joined local forces. Their timely actions helped minimize damage and safeguard hundreds of residents during and after the storm.
Unique “inventions” from storm areas
Accustomed to living with storms and floods, Central Vietnamese people have come up with creative survival tools. They are compact, windproof, and easy-to-move “field stoves” made of bricks and aluminum basins; multi-purpose boats where families can live, cook, and sleep safely during floods; floating water tanks crafted from barrels and buoys to store rainwater; and banana-trunk rafts for growing vegetables, keeping fresh produce afloat above floodwaters. These simple yet ingenious solutions help sustain life amidst disaster.
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Troops help reroof houses for storm-hit households in An Nhon Dong commune, Gia Lai district. |
Unwavering support from the military
With the combined efforts of the entire political system, armed forces, and resilient citizens, recovery after Storm Kalmaegi has been swift and effective.
Secretary of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee Thai Dai Ngoc affirmed that in these challenging days, units of Military Region 5 have been the firmest fulcrum for the people. Party committees, authorities, and residents place complete trust in military troops.
Translated by Chung Anh