In need of resources to respond to natural disasters

People moved swiftly due to heavy rainfall

We returned to Nui hamlet, where a landslide and sudden flood caused eleven deaths, several injuries, and the destruction of hundreds of homes many years ago.

At 7 a.m. on November 18, 2018, the "water fall" gushed from the mountain, inundating soil and boulders and destroying a number of homes in the Nui village.

Mr. Le Van Suu, a resident of over 20 years, stated that he had never witnessed such a devastating sudden deluge. People in the community witnessed a scene of numerous homes being consumed by rolling boulders. Everyone was terrified and fled away as soon as possible. If his family had not been able to flee up the mountain in time, they would have been interred along with their home.

Nearly five years have passed, but Mr. Suu's fixation on the past during cyclones persists. As a result, his family and neighbors increased their awareness of natural disasters and proactively relocated to a safe location.

Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa in the neighborhood surrounding Mr. Suu's home also learned a valuable lesson after a landslide and a dreadful flash flood occurred. Ms. Hoa stated that her home and the homes of her two daughters were all damaged by water and dirt that year. The entire family trembled and escaped with their lives. Recognizing that natural calamities are becoming increasingly unpredictable and can occur at any time, her family goes to the stream every time it rains severely to "watch the water" flowing down the mountain in preparation for relocation to the village cultural house or secure shelter.

According to the residents of Nui hamlet, there are approximately 400 households here at present. The majority of people reside in basic homes with flimsy corrugated iron roofs. Every day during the rainy and tempestuous season, natural disasters pose a hazard to the populace. Even though the province and city have made preparations, it is unknown when people will be able to relocate to more stable locations.

They desired to reside in the Mountain community after interacting with numerous locals. To stabilize their livelihoods, they want the government to reinvest in infrastructure, electricity, and water, and to rebuild permanent housing.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Luat, Vice Chairman of Phuoc Dong Commune People's Committee, stated that, as a result of landslides that have occurred in the area, the locality has recently intensified inspection of construction and exploitation order, leveling soil and rocks in mountainous areas, along rivers and streams at risk of landslides, and advising the City People's Committee to strictly handle violations.

In order to respond to natural disasters in the final months of the year, local governments will closely monitor weather developments, assist residents in fortifying their homes, and be prepared to evacuate people from hazardous areas.

Preparing a plan for natural catastrophe

According to the South Central Regional Hydro-Meteorological Station, the Khanh Hoa region will be directly or indirectly affected by 1-2 cyclones and high heat pressure in the final months of 2023.

From October to December, 2-3 medium and large floods are anticipated to materialize on the rivers in the area, on the Dinh River (Ninh Hoa town) at alert level 2-3, on the Cai River in Nha Trang at alert level. Warning 1-2. October and November are peak months for major flooding. The quantity of waterflow on the Cai River in Nha Trang is roughly 20 to 40 percent greater than the long-term average.

The South Central Regional Hydrometeorological Station advises the province of Khanh Hoa to take extreme precautions against extreme weather phenomena such as heavy rain in a brief period of time, powerful storms and floods, strong winds at sea... during the last month of the year.

In recent years, the types of natural calamities that have caused the most damage in Khanh Hoa province have been landslides and cyclones, according to statistics. Given the hydro-meteorological agency's forecast of cyclones this year, it is more important than ever for communities in Khanh Hoa province to respond proactively to natural disasters.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Deputy Head of the Commanding Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Khanh Hoa, stated that based on lessons learned from recent natural disasters, each locality and unit is currently reviewing each field and location to ensure the safety of people and property in boats, cages, and landslide areas. When natural disasters occur, direct and organize evacuation to ensure the safety of people, vehicles, and property.