He made the statement in a telegram sent on October 6 to storm-hit victims, cadres, rescue teams, the National Committee for Storm and Flood Control, the Ministry of National Defence, and the Ministry of Public Security.

Party leader Manh highlighted efforts made by the local authorities, armed forces, fatherland fronts at all levels, cadres and local population in coping with the storm and minimising losses. He also praised relevant ministries, the National Committee for Storm and Flood Control, and the mass media for adhering to the government’s instructions to prevent flood damage.

He said that the storm Lekima, especially the heavy rains and floods in the aftermath of the storm inflicted huge losses in property on some northern and central provinces, especially the provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh and also took a number of human lives. 

Mr Manh also sent his regards and expressed his deepest sympathies to tge families of victims and hoped that they will overcome their difficulties and deal with the consequences of the storm.

The party leader also asked local authorities to devise plans to implement the Prime Minister’s instructions on how to quickly prevent floods, evacuate people to safe areas, maintain security and social order, control the spread of diseases and strengthen the transport network and communications systems.

Storm Lekima causes serious losses to northern and central provinces

The National Committee for Storm and Flood Control on October 6 held an urgent meeting to discuss the preparations for coping with landslides and dyke breaches. The Buoi River Dyke in Kim Tan town in Thanh Hoa province broke its banks and the entire Thach Thanh district was flooded.

At the meeting, Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai instructed all relevant agencies and localities provide available resources for emergency aid to ensure food, water and medicines for people in affected areas and evacuate the local population to safe acess. He also asked the Ministry of Transport, Health, Trade and Industry, Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, Information and Communication and public security and defence to send rescue teams to the storm-affected areas. The urgent tasks are to restore the transport network, ensure electricity supplies and clean up the environment, and help local residents to stabilise their lives and early resume production activities.

After the Buoi River dyke in Kim Tan town was breached, the entire Thach Thanh district of Thanh Hoa province was flooded. Floodwater in Kim Tan town rose to 2 metres, even to 3-4 metres in many areas. The Buoi river was also rising rapidly, by 5cm even minute.  No deaths were reported in the district, which provided more than six tonnes of noodles, medical kits and raincoats to flood victims.

Currently, the relevant agencies in Thanh Hoa province are focusing on protecting the Ma River Dyke as water levels in the river have risen to an alarming level. Nguyen Ngoc Thuat, deputy head of the steering committee for flood prevention and control said all the emergency services had been mobilised to protect the Ma River dyke.

So far, the storm has swept across Thanh Hoa province, leaving two people dead, pulling down 20 houses and blowing off 4,200 houses, and destroying nearly 20,000 ha of crops. Total economic losses are estimated to be VND350 billion.

In Son La province, ten people died and one was injured in the storm. Moc Chau district has the greatest number of fatalities.

On the National Highway 6, water levels were rising fast, causing landslides and traffic jams. It is estimated that it will take at least two days to clear the highway.

On October 6, the water level in the Ma River reached its peak and then began to go down slowly while levels in the lower reach of the Ca River have continued to rise and have remained high. It is necessary to prepare for landslides and floods in the lowlands of the coastal provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An as they have experienced these before.

The Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front has sent VND200 million to help storm victims in Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces.