More proactive measures are needed to prevent property damage and casualties during the rainy season, said Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai on July 29.

Hanoi Party Chief Bui Thi Minh Hoai visits Can Huu Commune in Quoc Oai District, Hanoi. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

While visiting Nam Phuong Tien Commune in Chuong My District, and Can Huu Commune in Quoc Oai District, the Hanoi Party Chief urged local authorities to continue providing assistance to people trapped in flooded areas.

As about 1,000 families in Chuong My District are still stranded by the flood, she asked the district to take precise and quick action to evacuate these families to ensure their safety. "If talks can't convince these people to move, then coercive action is needed. Their lives must come first."

She required Chuong My's authorities to take a close look at the 4.8-kilometer dyke, which is in poor condition. It also must take measures to provide adequate shelter, food and health care for the people, especially the underprivileged, the elderly and the disabled.

She urged local authorities in the two districts to take drastic measures to resettle people as soon as the floodwaters recede and to ensure environmental standards to prevent disease outbreaks.

"Government agencies, military units and volunteer teams must always be prepared to respond quickly to emergencies. Districts should ask for help from the capital government when needed," Hoai said.

During the visit, the Party Chief also commended the two districts for their efforts to mitigate the effects of the flood, as well as their actions to evacuate local people and livestock.

According to the Chuong My District People's Committee, heavy rains from July 22 to 29 raised water levels in local rivers to near critical levels, damaging hundreds of canals, small dams, and parts of dikes, and inundating rice fields and roads in local communes. Damage was estimated at VND92 billion (US$3.6 million).

To help local people, the local authorities strengthened two kilometers of dykes, operated 17 water pumping stations, provided 1,200 20-liter water bottles and 50 instant noodle packs for families in flooded areas, installed 10 fresh water tanks, and set up a mobile health center for Nam Phuong Tien commune.

In Quoc Oai District, nearly 790 hectares of farmland and main roads were submerged, parts of the dyke were severely damaged, and a 160-square-meter house collapsed due to a landslide.

In response, the district helped the family move to a safer location and put all local teams on high alert for future emergencies. The local authorities provided locals with rice, instant noodles, and bottled water.

The flood-stricken districts wanted to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their dyke and irrigation systems and, if necessary, upgrade them with financial assistance from the city government.

At risk of losing all agricultural production

Heavy rains over the past week have flooded local farmland in Chuong My and Quoc Oai districts, leaving local farmers at risk of losing all their produce.

Nguyen Duy Toan in Chuong My's Hoang Van Thu Commune said his family has about 720m2 of rice fields, and it's all gone now. "The field is now a meter underwater. I think it will take weeks to drain the water," he said.

According to Le Hoai Thi, Chairman of the commune People's Committee, 100 hectares of rice fields, or a third of the total, are now completely submerged. "It only takes five days to wipe out rice production," he said.

In Chuong My District and others, the area of flooded rice fields ranged from 400 to 3,800 hectares.

Nguyen Quang Minh, in charge of Vinh Phuc Pumping Station in Quoc Oai District, said all six water pumps have been working at full capacity for the past week.

Tran Anh Tuan from Day River Irrigation Development Co Ltd, said the water pumps were ready before the heavy rains.

"Since July 16, we have been working hard to get hundreds of water pumps working. There are many other areas that need our help," he said.