On the afternoon of November 24, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province issued an urgent dispatch on responding to and overcoming damage caused by floods, especially in the downstream areas of the Ve River.

Accordingly, from November 22 until now, in Quang Ngai there has been very heavy rain, causing floods on the Ve and Tra Cau rivers to rise and fluctuate at alert level 3 to above alert level 3.

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Prolonged heavy rain caused about 70 households in Pho Minh ward to be deeply flooded. Photo: Anh Long

By this afternoon (November 24), in Pho Minh ward (Duc Pho town), due to Tra Cau river overflowing over Tra Cau embankment, 70 houses were flooded from 30cm to 1.7m.

Currently, local authorities have evacuated 15 households with about 30 people living in deeply flooded areas to safety.

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Rescuers take people from flooded areas to safety. Photo: Anh Long

Meanwhile, a landslide also occurred on the road from Minh Long district to Ba To district, affecting traffic. Initial records show that the landslide was about 50m long.

Local authorities have set up signs and checkpoints in the landslide area and notified people not to pass through the landslide area.

In Nghia Hanh district, the water level of the Ve River rose very high, causing flooding and cutting off many traffic routes in the two communes of Hanh Tin Dong and Hanh Tin Tay. Floodwaters also flooded provincial road 624B through Hanh Thien commune by 0.7m, the negative slope through Hanh Thinh commune was eroded and at risk of eroding deep into the roadbed.

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Landslide on a traffic road in Minh Long district. Photo: C. Dong

To proactively respond to floods and ensure the safety of people's lives and property, the Chairman of Quang Ngai province requested districts, towns and cities to continue to closely monitor the weather situation and promptly inform people to prevent and minimize damage.

The Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Duc Pho town and Nghia Hanh district urgently mobilized maximum local forces to continue to review and carefully inspect traffic routes and residential areas that are deeply flooded or at risk of being flooded to support people in evacuating.

Pay special attention to residential areas in communes and wards along Tra Cau, Ve and Phuoc Giang rivers.

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Authorities help people move livestock out of flooded areas on November 24. Photo: Anh Long

Check areas at high risk of landslides, flash floods, and inundation to promptly evacuate people, especially those that have been or are being eroded in the districts of Son Ha, Tra Bong, Son Tay, and Ba To. Note that areas with cracks, landslides, and mountain slope slides must be proactively evacuated according to the motto "go early, return late".

Arrange 24/7 security forces, put up warning signs and resolutely prohibit people from traveling through dangerous areas (underground, overflow, deeply flooded roads, landslides, etc.).

Temporarily suspend ferry operations and do not allow people to fish or collect firewood on the river during periods of rain and floods.

Check, review and deploy plans to ensure safety of reservoirs and downstream areas.