Hanoi deploys over 1,200 officers to battle rising floods, evacuates thousands
Heavy rainfall and rising river levels have put parts of Hanoi under severe flood threat, prompting city authorities to activate emergency response measures and relocate residents from vulnerable areas along the Red River.
THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi has mobilized 1,270 officers and soldiers to combat severe flooding in its riverside villages, while urgently evacuating nearly 10,000 residents and preparing to relocate 36,000 more should water levels continue to rise.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Hanoi military and police forces on the morning of October 10 assisted tens of thousands of residents in two communes of Trung Gia and Da Phuc to urgently evacuate as floodwaters had been rising due to the impact of Typhoon Matmo.
Thousands of households in Trung Gia Commune in northern Hanoi remains submerged in floodwaters despite the rain having stopped. Photo: Dan Viet Newspaper
More than 5,800 residents in Trung Gia Commune were evacuated on the afternoon of October 10, while some 30,000 people in Da Phuc Commune remain at risk of relocation if water levels continue to rise.
Prolonged heavy rains have caused many dykes, embankments, roads and hundreds of hectares of rice and crops in Hanoi to be deeply flooded. The two communes of Trung Gia and Da Phuc, located next to the Huu Cau River, are the most severely damaged.
The Northern Hydrometeorological Center warned that flood peaks on Huu Cau River could surpass level 3 alerts, threatening low-lying areas with prolonged inundation for two or three days.
Trung Gia Commune currently has 18 isolated villages and more than 4,000 households, with 16,400 residents affected. Local authorities have coordinated with the Hanoi Capital Command and police forces to complete evacuations. By noon on October 10, all residents had been safely relocated.
Many roads in the communes of Trung Gia and Da Phuc have been deeply flooded. Photo: Dan Viet Newspaper
In Da Phuc Commune, up to 980 hectares of farmland are flooded. Numerous dikes, canals, and culverts have been eroded or collapsed, while the Huu Cau dike was overtopped, submerging nearly 12 kilometers of dikes and embankments. More than 6,500 residents have been safely moved to higher ground.
Sections of the Hanoi–Thai Nguyen railway passing through Trung Gia Commune were washed out, causing track subsidence and a temporary suspension of train operations. Vietnam Railways Corporation has deployed teams to assess the damage and expects repairs to be completed soon.
In response to the worsening situation, 33 motorboats and 20 specialized military vehicles have been mobilized for rescue operations. The Ministry of National Defense has also prepared a helicopter in case the area becomes completely isolated.
Officers and soldiers fan out across flooded villages to evacuate residents. Photo: VNA
Nguyen Manh Quyen, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, has directed authorities in Da Phuc and Trung Gia communes to carry out evacuations according to risk levels.
Under the city’s plan, about 38,500 residents will be temporarily relocated to schools, cultural houses and military or police barracks.
As of this morning, the water level of the Huu Cau River had receded slightly, down 3cm from the evening of October 9, but rescue forces remain on 24-hour duty to safeguard the dykes and support residents in inundated zones.
Hanoi needs to study long-term solutions to protect dyke system
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited Trung Gia and Da Phuc communes on the night of October 9 to oversee flood response and recovery efforts, urging Hanoi authorities and relevant agencies to study long-term solutions to protect dyke system.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (center), Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai (behind Chinh) and other officials were on site to oversea flood response work in Trung Gia and Da Phuc communes on the night of October 9. Photo: VGP
The Government leader requested Hanoi authorities to closely monitor river levels and implement timely flood control measures.
Main and auxiliary dikes, along with smaller local embankments in villages such as An Lac and Phong My, have been raised by about one meter, keeping floodwaters from spilling into residential areas.
"It is essential to remain vigilant and ensure shelters and essential supplies are in place to evacuate residents if needed," said Chinh.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh encourages forces who are working to reinforce the dyke of Huu Cau River. Photo: VGP
He also called Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep for an urgent briefing on river levels, instructing agencies to manage upstream reservoirs flexibly to prevent downstream dike breaches.
The prime minister also encouraged the forces working overnight to reinforce the dykes and residents to support one another, with priority given to rescuing the elderly, children and pregnant women.
In response to the disaster, Hanoi has allocated VND10 billion (US$379,000) each to Trung Gia and Da Phuc communes for emergency support.
