Responding to Landslides: Prevention is Better Than Cure

Due to the impact of storm No. 3 and its circulation, the province has experienced heavy rain and historic floods, causing loss of life and property. Notably, the floods have caused landslides in many riverbanks and many traffic routes in the province. Currently, localities are focusing on overcoming the damage caused by natural disasters.

Authorities put up signs and stretched ropes to warn of danger at the landslide site on the right bank of Thao River in Bac Son commune, Tam Nong district.

According to preliminary statistics as of September 15, due to the impact of storm No. 3 and its circulation, in Phu Tho province, landslides have caused 1 death, 30 riverbank landslides with a total length of nearly 20km. The whole province also has 200 landslides on roads with a total length of more than 50km (the volume of landslides is about 26,500m3).

In Ha Hoa district, landslides killed one person in Tu Hiep commune. Many roads in the district were damaged and eroded, such as National Highway 32C, National Highway 2D, National Highway 70; many district, inter-village, and inter-commune roads were eroded, affecting 11 communes and towns, making travel difficult for people.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hong - Vice Chairman of Ha Hoa District People's Committee, to promptly overcome the damage after storm No. 3, the District People's Committee has focused on directing and requesting the People's Committees of communes, towns, departments, agencies, and units of the district to proactively inspect and review slopes, steep hillsides at risk of landslides, river bank collapse due to the impact of rain, floods or changes in flow... to evacuate households from dangerous areas. At the same time, inspect and review residential areas adjacent to rivers, streams, low-lying areas where floods and landslides have just occurred to proactively take response and early handling measures. Organize forces to control, support, put up warning signs, barriers, guide traffic, ensure safety for people and vehicles in landslides, landslides, river bank collapse due to rain and floods to promptly overcome incidents, ensure smooth traffic on routes and traffic axes when heavy rain occurs. Timely report to the District People's Committee when incidents arise after floods to ensure safety of people's lives and minimize damage to people's property.

Currently, there are many areas in the province that are at high risk of landslides, flash floods, and landslides, causing great risks to people and property. According to forecasts from professional agencies, storms and floods are likely to occur in the coming days, affecting localities in the province. Given the increasingly complex nature of natural disasters, identifying and implementing warning and forecasting solutions and building risk mitigation works is an urgent task at present.

To do that, it is necessary to have solutions to minimize damage caused by natural disasters such as: Investing in infrastructure, improving early warning capacity, self-response capacity, especially in residential communities as well as investing in information systems for people.

According to comrade Nguyen Hung Son, Head of the Irrigation Sub-Department, responding to landslides must be proactive according to the motto "prevention is better than cure". Authorities at all levels need to review and handle landslides well, apply temporary reinforcement methods, and avoid unnecessary damage. Pay attention to the work of forecasting and forecasting, enhance the capacity of cadres, and disaster prevention and control centers at all levels; disseminate, equip knowledge, and provide information on disaster prevention and control to the people.

For localities, it is necessary to urgently evacuate people from high-risk areas, review residential planning and infrastructure, and ensure that the impact caused by natural disasters is minimized. Promote the role of shock troops and search and rescue forces to promptly respond and minimize human and property damage caused by natural disasters. In particular, localities need to actively plant and protect forests to prevent soil erosion.

Trinh Ha

Source: https://baophutho.vn/ung-pho-voi-sat-lo-dat-phong-hon-chong-219275.htm