Troops help locals overcome flood consequences

PANO – Torrential rains and flash floods in Northern localities on August 3 caused heavy human and property losses in Mu Cang Chai district, Northern province of Yen Bai.

Prompt actions requested to deal with flood consequences

Over 1,000 troops help locals overcome flood consequences in Yen Bai

Military units have actively helped locals in mitigating the consequences of the disaster.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Suu, Deputy Commander of Mu Cang Chai district Military Command, in response to the serious situation, the unit worked with local forces on August 3 to conduct search and rescue and evacuation missions and asked the provincial Military Command for vehicles and specialized machines to rescue the victims.

Senior Colonel Pham Hong Chuong, Commander of the Yen Bai provincial Military Command, said that the unit sent hundreds of troops and militiamen and more than 100 rescue vehicles and equipment to search for victims, help locals repair houses, and clean up the environment. In addition, around 40 troops with good swimming and diving skills were also mobilized to conduct search and rescue in lakes in Mu Cang Chai.

Troops of military units under Military Region 2 were mobilized to the scene to search and rescue flood victims and evacuate those in flood-hit areas to safer places.

According to the Yen Bai provincial Steering Board for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, as of 5:00pm on August 4, torrential rains flooded many places in the province, leaving four people dead, nine injured, and 11 other missing. Fifty nine houses, seven public projects, 2km of rural road, and 141 irrigation projects were damaged. The initial damage was estimated at over VND 160 billion.

The provincial People’s Committee instructed forces to evacuate locals to safer places and to provide food and medicines to those in disaster-hit areas. The province also asked local authorities to follow the development of rains and the flooding to stay active in dealing with disasters to minimize human and property losses.