Hanoi mayor urges mobilized forces to overcome aftermaths of storm

On September 11, the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, Tran Sy Thanh, signed Directive No. 15 regarding the focus on overcoming the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi or Storm No. 3 and the subsequent heavy rain and flooding.

Following the Prime Minister's Directive on September 10 to address the consequences of the storm and the resulting rain and flooding, the chairman requested heads of departments, agencies, and district-level authorities to strictly implement the prime minister's instructions and the city’s directives. 

Fire firefighting and rescue police work to solve falling trees in downtown Hanoi during super typhoon Yagi. Photos: Hanoi Police

Immediate clean-up of schools, restoration of damaged facilities

The directive calls for the prompt continuation of search and rescue efforts (with a focus on ensuring the safety of the rescue forces), free medical treatment for the injured, and timely visits and support for the families of the deceased.

Relief efforts should include providing food, necessities, and shelter for households at risk of food shortages, especially those in isolated areas, ensuring no one is left hungry, cold, or without a place to stay.

Authorities are instructed to comprehensively and accurately assess the damages to people’s production, property, and infrastructure. Reports are to be submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development by 10:00 AM on September 12, 2024, so they can be compiled and presented to the prime minister on the same day. Local and legal resources should be mobilized to swiftly address the disaster’s aftermath and restore normal life and production as quickly as possible.

The Commander of the Hanoi Capital Command and the Director of the City Police are to deploy personnel and equipment to assist citizens in recovery efforts as requested by local authorities.

The Director of the Health Department is tasked with ensuring timely treatment for the injured, supplying necessary medicines, and ensuring medical services are available in affected areas. Public health measures such as water sanitation and environmental protection should be taken to prevent outbreaks of disease after the flooding.

Priority given to power supply for hospitals and water stations

Chairman Tran Sy Thanh also directed the Director of the Department of Industry and Trade to efficiently manage state responsibilities, instructing the Hanoi Power Corporation and related agencies to swiftly repair and restore the electrical system.

It includes prioritizing power supply for hospitals, water drainage pumps to prevent flooding, and critical production activities. Measures should also be in place to ensure the supply of goods and control market prices to prevent shortages or unreasonable price hikes.

The Director of the Department of Education and Training is instructed to immediately clean schools, repair damaged facilities, and provide teaching equipment, books, and supplies to schools affected by the storm, allowing students to return to normal studies as soon as possible.

The Director of the Department of Transportation is tasked with quickly restoring roads to facilitate the transport of relief goods and rescue efforts while ensuring the safety and smooth flow of traffic.

Authorities are to be on duty 24/7, monitor and manage waterway traffic, and ensure that boats and ferries remain docked and inactive until permitted. It also requires proactive measures to prevent drifting vessels and ensure the safety of people, vehicles, and river infrastructure.

The Director of the Department of Information and Communications is responsible for managing state functions in communication, instructing service providers to maintain smooth communication channels for disaster response and business and public services.

The Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs must coordinate with local authorities to review and provide food support to households affected by the rains and floods, ensuring that people’s livelihoods, especially those in isolated areas, are stabilized.

The Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is to oversee measures ensuring the safety of dikes and reservoirs, addressing incidents promptly. It should take efforts to restore agricultural production after the storm, including providing seeds and ensuring the availability of food supplies in the coming period.

In addition, preparations must be made for the worst-case scenario regarding the Thac Ba Reservoir as per the Prime Minister's instructions during the online meeting on September 10, 2024. Reports of damages to production, property, and infrastructure are to be submitted to the Hanoi People's Committee for further reporting to the Prime Minister on September 12, 2024.