Heavy to very heavy rain have occurred across Lang Son Province. Localised flooding was recorded in many places, along with landslides in high mountainous areas. To proactively respond, officers and soldiers of the Lang Son armed forces were urgently mobilised to the scene, organising personnel and equipment to support residents in evacuating and moving people and property to safe places.
Colonel Mai Xuan Phong, member of the Provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board, Commander of the Provincial Military Command and Deputy Head of the Lang Son Provincial Civil Defence Command, said that in the face of heavy rain causing flooding in several localities, the Provincial Military Command directed its subordinate agencies and units, as well as commune and ward military commands, to proactively mobilise on-site forces and coordinate with functional forces to guard deeply flooded and landslide-prone areas, while assisting residents to evacuate to safe places. The Provincial Military Command also mobilised Battalion 1 of Regiment 123 to deploy forces in support of rescue operations in flooded areas. In total, nearly 1,000 officers, soldiers and militia members were mobilised to take part in the response.
At the flooded area of Gieng Vuong Market in Ky Lua Ward, the Provincial Military Command mobilised 50% of its agency personnel. The Mobile Police Division and the Fire Prevention, Fighting, Rescue and Salvage Police Division under the Provincial Police also mobilised more than 130 officers and soldiers, together with many vehicles and pieces of equipment, to help residents move people, goods and property out of flooded areas; provide timely first aid and take injured residents to safe places; disseminate information and warnings to residents; and set up ropes at spillways to warn people.
Witnessing police officers and soldiers wading through floodwater and heavy rain to rescue goods for small traders at the market made people feel even more deeply the sacred value of the “military-civilian bond”, an inseparable, close-knit affection that serves as a source of motivation to overcome all difficulties.
“The soldiers, police and other forces have supported us a great deal. Without their help, my family and many business households here would have found it difficult to move our goods to safety in time,” said Nguyen Thi Nguyet, a trader at Gieng Vuong Market.
“My house is close to a hillside, and heavy rain caused a landslide at the back of the house. The soldiers promptly took the five members of my family to a safe shelter and helped secure the house and move our belongings,” said Vi Van Quy from Cu Na Hamlet, Quan Son Commune.
On the morning of August 23, rain continued to pour down over a wide area of Lang Son Province. Water from both banks of the Ky Cung River, kept rising, overflowing pavements and flooding streets along the riverbanks.
After receiving a report from residents that a mother and her child were trapped in alley 36 on Ben Bac Street, which was deeply flooded, mobile police forces quickly moved to the location and brought them out of the danger area. The unit mobilised 30 officers and soldiers to stand by and carry out the task of helping more than 50 households living along the Ky Cung River move their property to safe places. It also brought 10 people trapped in deep and dangerous floodwater out of flooded areas, including seven children and three adults.
Water levels in rivers across Lang Son Province are forecast to continue rising. Police officers, soldiers and many other forces in the province are continuing to maintain personnel and equipment on standby, closely monitor weather developments and proactively prevent and promptly handle arising situations. They remain ready to go to vulnerable areas to support residents, ensure the safety of lives and property, and make every effort to minimise damage caused by natural disasters.
