The Hanoi People's Committee on September 11 issued Official Document No. 2993, emphasizing the need to strengthen inspection, review, and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi or Storm No. 3. The directive aims to ensure the safety of construction works and urban infrastructure across the city.

Remove fallen tree branches after the storm at Thanh Xuan Bac Ward. Photo: Hong Thai/The Hanoi Times

To address immediate risks and ensure public safety, the Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh instructed relevant agencies to inspect the structural integrity of buildings and infrastructure. This includes the removal and repair of damaged or unstable components.

“Special attention will be given to schools, hospitals, apartment buildings, and other densely populated areas,” stated the directive.

Authorities will focus on inspecting doors, railings, high-hanging objects, walls, roofs, electrical systems, and water infrastructure. Unstable or damaged elements should be quickly repaired or removed.. In particular, windows, glass doors, metal cladding, and similar structures must comply with current safety standards, it said.

For buildings showing signs of structural weakness or damage - especially old apartment complexes and structures with damaged roofs or glass facades - Thanh called for immediate repairs and safety assessments before they were put back into use.

In addition, the directive states that post-storm cleanup efforts should focus on removing damaged signage, rooftop water tanks, sheet metal, and glass panels. Authorities are also instructed to assess the structural stability of these items immediately, and either repair or dismantle unstable components to prevent further damage.

Construction sites and their equipment need to be thoroughly inspected to ensure safety before work resumes. Any damaged structures or equipment must be repaired or relocated, and assessments will be conducted to eliminate potential hazards.

Flood prevention is also a priority, with authorities clearing drainage channels and maintaining infrastructure such as tidal control systems and water pumps to prevent flooding.

Street lighting, traffic signals, and signage damaged by the storm will be repaired, and any areas at risk of landslides or flooding will be closely monitored, with warnings and traffic diversions issued as necessary.

Additionally, residential areas at peril of landslides, such as mountainous or riverine areas need to be surveyed, warnings issued and, if necessary, residents relocated to safer areas.

The city calls for all available resources to be mobilized to clear fallen trees and debris that pose a risk to traffic and public safety. Coordinated efforts with relevant agencies, such as traffic management, power, and water utilities, will ensure rapid restoration of damaged infrastructure. Urban trees will be replanted or replaced as part of the recovery effort, with an emphasis on choosing storm-resistant species.

The Hanoi People’s Committee has tasked the Director of the Department of Construction with overseeing and coordinating the efforts of district-level authorities and other relevant units. A progress report will be submitted by the end of September 2024.

Directors of the Departments of Construction, Industry and Trade, Transportation, Agriculture, and Rural Development, along with managers of industrial zones, the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, and city investment projects, are responsible for ensuring the safety of all construction projects and urban infrastructure. They must work with contractors and project owners to inspect and repair any damage and report progress by September 20, 2024, for consolidation by the Department of Construction.

The Departments of Transportation, Public Security, and the Hanoi Capital Command, as well as district authorities, have been instructed to keep response teams on standby to monitor and quickly deal with any incidents caused by the storm. They are also tasked with ensuring public safety, security, and the stability of construction projects and urban infrastructure in the city.