In response, more than 100 officers, soldiers, and local militiamen in Ha Tinh were mobilized to assist residents in evacuating their belongings and recovering from the natural disaster.
On the night of May 24 and into the early morning of May 25, non-stop rainfall caused water levels to rise rapidly, flooding houses in the communes of Cam My, Cam Due, and Cam Thach. Roads turned into rivers, with water depths reaching nearly one meter in some areas. This type of mid-summer flooding was unprecedented for residents in this flood-prone region. The fast-moving current took many families by surprise, sweeping away mud, debris, household items, and even livestock. Hundreds of hectares of crops were submerged, and tons of newly harvested rice, which had not yet been properly stored, were drenched.
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Officers and soldiers of Regiment 841 helping locals clean their houses after the flood |
By the morning of May 25, 50 officers and soldiers from Regiment 841 under the Ha Tinh Provincial Military Command, along with personnel from the Military Command of Cam Xuyen district and local militia forces, had promptly arrived in the most heavily flooded areas. They helped residents elevate furniture, dry soaked rice, and clean out their homes.
Lieutenant Colonel Phan Van Duc, Deputy Head and Chief of Staff of the Cam Xuyen District Military Command, who directly oversaw the emergency response, said that when heavy rain began late at night, the unit immediately activated its on-the-spot emergency team to assist locals in moving their belongings to safer places. The following morning, as floodwaters began to recede, 28 soldiers, supported by dozens of local militiamen, were divided into teams to clear mud, unclog drainage systems, and transport rice for drying, helping residents quickly return to normal life.
Despite working in humid, post-flood conditions, the soldiers did not hesitate to wade through the mud, carrying heavy bags of rice. In My Dong hamlet of Cam My commune, the family of Phan Thanh Hung suffered major losses. Over one ton of rice, temporarily stored in a corner of the yard, was submerged. In addition, 35 meters of his sturdy fence collapsed, and many household items, including wooden cabinets, cookware, and bedding, were damaged or buried in mud. Troops from Regiment 841 quickly arrived at Hung’s home, shoveling mud and carrying the rice to drying machines. Thanks to their efforts, Hung was able to salvage his rice.
This rare mid-summer flooding posed serious challenges to local disaster preparedness. Yet, true to the spirit of “being there when the people need us,” Ha Tinh’s armed forces did their utmost to help residents, reducing losses and strengthening the bond between soldiers and civilians.
Due to the prolonged torrential rain, Cam Xuyen district in Ha Tinh province experienced flash floods and widespread inundation. Rainfall at the Ke Go Reservoir reached 524.4 mm. High inflow volumes increased pressure on downstream areas, particularly the communes of Cam My and Cam Due located directly below the dam.
Rapid upstream runoff cut off several roads. The road section near the Cam Due Commune People’s Committee was flooded and isolated. In Cam My commune, water levels rose quickly, submerging much of the area, especially the four mountainous hamlets of My Phu, My Dong, My Lam, and My Ha, impacting around 450 households. Water levels rose between 0.5 to 1.5 meters, entering homes at night and leaving residents little time to react. Several neighborhoods were surrounded by floodwater, damaging newly harvested rice, poultry, and electronic devices.
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Troops assisting locals dry their rice |
In particular, the heavy rains caused flooding across multiple areas, impacting both standing spring rice crops and harvested rice stored at homes. Preliminary reports from local authorities indicated that 2,250 hectares of unharvested spring rice were inundated; 2,076 tons of harvested rice were soaked; and nearly 12,000 livestock and poultry were swept away, mainly in the communes of Cam My, Cam Due, Cam Quan, Cam Thach, Cam Ha, Cam Thinh, Cam Son, Cam Minh, and Cam Xuyen town.
In Thach Ha district, the heavy rains caused a section of the Ha Dam, located in Quy hamlet of Thach Ngoc commune and with a capacity of approximately 250,000 cubic meters, to unexpectedly breach. Local authorities are currently mobilizing forces to inspect vulnerable areas, reinforce the dike system, and address the consequences of the breach.
Translated by Tran Hoai