Ha Noi People's Committee takes close look at flooding

Central Hoan Kiem District's Phan Huy Chu Street floods earlier this month. Continued heavy rainfall has pounded the city since the start of summer, causing large–scale flooding. — VNA/VNS Photo Truong Vi

HA NOI — The Ha Noi People's Committee's Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Khoi called on relevant agencies to better manage flooding to ensure safety during periods of heavy rainfall.

The Ha Noi Sewerage and Drainage Company, in specific, was asked to deal with five out of 21 flooding hot spots at the intersections of Ba Trieu-Nguyen Du, Duoi Ca–Truong Dinh, Nguyen Duc Canh-Set River and Khuat Duy Tien-Tran Duy Hung as well as Thinh Liet Street by the middle of next month.

Currently, more workers and mud clearing vehicles are needed for dredging ditches to minimise danger.

Continued heavy rainfall has pounded the city since the start of summer, causing large–scale floods. Streets such as Linh Nam, Ngoc Hoi and Nguyen Tuan have been inundated with 50-60cm of water, causing cars and motorbikes to stall. Risks have increased with spillway dams lacking warning signs.

Khoi additionally urged the Department of Transport and Ha Noi Police to take responsibility for allocating enough officers to guide and re-route traffic flow to avoid flooding hot spots.

People's committees in districts such as Dong Da, Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan and Hoang Mai have raised awareness on flooding and implemented measures to protect the public.

The Ha Noi Public Lighting Company has made suitable adjustments to lighting systems to assist traffic on rainy days.

Meanwhile, relevant authorities are making efforts to prevent landslides along the city's dyke system.

Director of the Ha Noi Flood, Storm Control and Dyke Management Department Do Duc Thinh said the 469-km dyke system was designed to combat large floods, however, many parts have been weakened by termites and mice.

He added that complicated water flow has caused landslides and fissures in certain areas, especially in the districts of Tu Liem, Hoang Mai, Dong Anh, Soc Son, Quoc Oai, Dan Phuong and Ba Vi.

Deputy Director of Agriculture and Rural Development Luu Van Hai said the department would focus on reinforcing 12 weak parts in the city's dyke system.

He added that relevant authorities would boost regular inspections to detect dyke weaknesses. — VNS