HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected flood-hit areas in Hanoi’s outlying district of Soc Son late on October 9 and directed local authorities to be ready to evacuate up to 30,000 residents as floodwaters continued to rise.
The prime minister visited Trung Gia and Da Phuc communes, where large sections remain submerged due to surging water levels in nearby rivers. At the site, the prime minister underscored that these were critical areas and instructed Hanoi authorities to closely monitor flood developments and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to implement appropriate response plans, including the worst-case scenario of mass evacuation.
Chinh emphasized the need to be ready to relocate residents, instructing authorities to prepare vehicles, deploy them when necessary, and keep people informed and alert. He added that, in the event of an evacuation, the military should provide immediate support, prioritizing the elderly, children, and other vulnerable groups.
Chinh also called Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep on-site to receive updates on river water levels and instructed flexible regulation of upstream hydropower reservoirs to prevent downstream dike failures.
He later met with military and local forces working overnight to reinforce dikes, thanking them for their dedication and urging scientific and effective coordination to swiftly detect and handle any incidents, even minor ones.
He also requested Hanoi and relevant agencies to devise long-term, sustainable flood control measures, as river water levels have surpassed historical peaks.
According to the Northern Hydrometeorological Station, water levels in the Cau and Ca Lo rivers rose significantly on October 9. At 3 p.m., the Cau River at Luong Phuc station reached 10.1 meters, which is 2.1 meters above the third-level flood warning, while the Ca Lo River at Manh Tan station stood at 9.61 meters, 1.61 meters above the same threshold.
Flooding is expected to persist for two to four days, posing risks to weak dike sections, bridges, and roads in riverside communes such as Trung Gia, Da Phuc, Soc Son, Thu Lam, Phuc Thinh, Quang Minh, Tien Thang, and Noi Bai.
Local authorities and armed forces have been assisting residents in moving to higher ground and reinforcing dike systems. In several villages, including An Lac and Phong My, embankments have been raised by around one meter to prevent flooding in residential areas.
Meanwhile, a section of the Hanoi–Thai Nguyen railway passing through Trung Gia Commune was washed out yesterday afternoon, halting train operations as floodwaters eroded and deformed the track bed.
