High risk of landslides

On the morning of August 26, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired the fourth emergency meeting of the forward command in response to storm number 5 (Kajiki), following its landfall in Ha Tinh and Nghe An in the late afternoon of August 25.

According to a rapid report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the storm’s wide circulation spanned nearly the entire East Sea, triggering widespread rainfall from the Northern region to North Central Vietnam.

On the afternoon of August 25, storm number 5 made landfall between Nghe An and Ha Tinh with wind speeds of levels 11-12, gusting up to level 13. By the morning of August 26, it had moved into central Laos and weakened into a tropical depression.

Heavy rainfall caused rising water levels in the Ma River (Thanh Hoa), reaching 19.31 meters at Cam Thuy station - 0.31 meters above alert level 2. At Giang station, the water level stood at 4.0 meters (alert level 1) and was still rising.

Upstream, the Ca River (Nghe An) at Thach Giam rose to 66.98 meters - 0.98 meters above alert level 1. The Gianh River (Quang Tri) had peaked above alert level 1 and was now receding.

Forecasts indicate that by 4:00 p.m. on August 26, the tropical depression will weaken and dissipate. From the early morning of August 26 to August 27, the northern midlands, Red River Delta, Son La, and Lao Cai are expected to receive 60-120mm of rainfall, with localized areas exceeding 200mm.

From Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh, rainfall will range between 50-100mm, with some areas exceeding 150mm. The risk of landslides remains high in the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam and between Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh.

Preliminary local reports as of 6:00 a.m. on August 26 state that the storm has caused 3 deaths (1 in Nghe An, 1 in Ha Tinh, and 1 in Ninh Binh), injured 10 people, collapsed 7 homes (all in Ha Tinh), unroofed or damaged 6,802 homes (6,340 in Ha Tinh alone), and flooded 3,094 others.

Military and police mobilized for rapid recovery

During the meeting, Ha Tinh Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Lam noted that by this time, the severe wind and rain had mostly subsided. However, he emphasized the need to remain vigilant and continue monitoring the storm’s circulation and rainfall, especially in mountainous districts such as Huong Son, Vu Quang, and Huong Khe - areas still at high risk of flash floods and landslides.

According to preliminary statistics, the storm caused one death due to an accident while repairing a house, and nine injuries. The province also experienced widespread power outages. Currently, Ha Tinh Power Company is coordinating with the Northern Power Corporation to restore electricity.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha urged local authorities to mobilize the entire political system - particularly the military and police - to accelerate recovery efforts, especially for over 1,200 flooded and unroofed homes.

He also instructed Ha Tinh to conduct a detailed assessment of damaged schools, hospitals, and welfare facilities to prioritize restoration and ensure students return to class promptly.

Use of drones for damage assessment

Nghe An Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung reported that the province had not recorded any direct fatalities, except for one electrocution death on August 24 in Bich Hao commune (formerly Thanh Chuong) while reinforcing a rooftop against the storm. Two other individuals were injured.

Nghe An is currently focusing on initial recovery efforts based on the "four on-the-spot" principle, giving priority to restoring transportation, communications, and electricity. Armed forces, including Military Region 4 and the provincial military command, are actively supporting affected communities.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha warned that western Nghe An would continue experiencing heavy rain, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides. He called on local authorities to closely monitor the situation and mobilize forces to support residents proactively.

He recommended the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to survey hydropower plants, dams, and waterways for early warning purposes.

Additionally, he urged the provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Committee to convene emergency meetings and inspect densely populated areas downstream of rivers and mountain creeks - locations with high disaster risk.

"The land has been severely weakened by recent storms and floods, posing a significant risk of flash floods, mudslides, and landslides. I urge Nghe An to immediately conduct inspections and develop timely preventive measures," emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.

PV