Army units brace for Storm No. 8

PANO - Lieutenant General Le Chiem, Commander of Military Zone 5 yesterday chaired a meeting on deploying army units’ missions to cope the Storm No. 8 and guide offshore vehicles to safer areas.

In Quang Nam Province, General Chiem directly checked the storm response plans of Tank-Armoured Brigade 574, Division 315, Engineering Brigade 270 and other units stationed in the locality. He asked them to strictly follow the development of the storm and maintain 24-hour duty while ensuring safety for troops, weapons and equipment. Furthermore, they must be ready to work with other mobile forces to give assistance to local people.

Meanwhile, troops of the border post of Thuan An port border gate in Thua Thien-Hue Province teamed with more than 500 local people to reinforce the sea dyke in Ganh village, Hai Duong commune, Huong Tra district, Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Troops of Thua Thien - Hue Provincial Border Guards consolidating sea dyke.

Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Border Guards let off signal flares to inform vessels operating at sea of Storm No. 8 and its route, to timely take refuge.

Moreover, a mobile platoon, a bus, a van, two ambulances and a motorboat were on duty at upper Huong River to evacuate local people and join search and rescue missions.

The same day, Commands of Military Zones 4, 5, Army Corps 1, 3, the Navy, Air-force and Air Defence Service and Marine Police directed affiliated units to implement measures ensuring safety for barracks, depots and equipment. Units were also asked to double check their plans of deploying forces and vehicles to protect local people from heavy rains, flash flood, landslides and to conduct search and rescue. Military Zone 4 alone deployed nearly 170,000 troops, militiamen and 772 vehicles including automobiles, amphibious vehicles, lifeboats to key places to be ready for Storm No. 8. 

In Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, some 8,024 boats with 29,831 people on board safely took refuge under the direction of army units and local military command.

On the afternoon of September 18th, Dac Lac Provincial Military Command directed Ea Sup district’s military command to send 17 cadres and troops together with 350 militiamen and 3 boats to submerged areas in Ia Loi, Ia Rve and Ea Roc communes, and evacuate 177 local people from risky areas.