(VOVWORLD) -Last weekend typhoon Prapiroon swept through Vietnam’s nine northern provinces. Localities are taking emergency measures to help people recover from heavy rain and flooding.
 Secretary of Hanoi’s Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai oversees natural disaster recovery in Quoc Oai district. (Photo: Nguyen Van Canh/VNA) |
The Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue reported that heavy rains, floods, flash floods, and landslides due to typhoon Prapiroon have caused severe damage to people and property.
Son La province reported 7 deaths, Dien Bien 2, and Hanoi 1. 9 people are still missing. 1,500 houses were damaged and 30,000 hectares of rice and crops are inundated. 12,000 cattle and poultry were swept away or killed and 188 hectares of aquaculture were damaged.
Secretary of Hanoi’s Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai on Monday oversaw natural disaster recovery in Chuong My and Quoc Oai district. She said 1,000 households in the flooded area should be evacuated to ensure their safety. She asked local officials to ensure basic living conditions for the evacuees, particularly the elderly and people with disabilities.
 About 40 households in Son La province remain inundated. (Photo: Thu Thuy/VOV) |
In Son La province, heavy rain from July 22 to July 26 severely damaged local transportation infrastructure. 4,000 landslides have been spotted on provincial roads and national highways. Son La city, which was submerged for two days, is seeing the water beginning to recede. Local authorities and residents are working hard on recovery efforts.
Nguyen Van Bach, a representative of the Vietnam Road Department, said: “Before the next heavy rain, we’ve surveyed all road sections to foresee possible problems. We’ve arranged for staff to be on duty and patrol around the clock in order to quickly handle any event.”
Dien Bien province has found 3 of the 5 people who were reported missing after a flash flood on July 25. 100 soldiers and volunteers have been deployed for search and rescue efforts.
Lieutenant Colonel Lu Minh Phuong, Deputy Director of the Dien Bien provincial Police Department, said: “They won’t return until they’ve found the missing people. We’ll mobilize every possible means to find the victims and move their property to a safe place.”
Northern mountain provinces are closely monitoring weather forecasts and taking steps to ensure downstream safety, maintain safe operation of the Son La and Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoirs, and help people recover from the flooding.