Relief supplies are loaded to the aircraft. Photo courtesy of the Air Defence – Air Force Service

LẠNG SƠN — In response to severe flooding that has left more than 3,000 households isolated in the northern mountainous province of Lạng Sơn, the Ministry of National Defence on Wednesday morning ordered the Air Defence – Air Force Service to conduct emergency relief flights to the affected areas.

Helicopters from Regiment 916 were mobilised to deliver relief supplies and assist residents in Vân Nham, Yên Bình and Tuấn Sơn communes, which have been cut off by flooding triggered by Typhoon Matmo.

Major General Vũ Hồng Sơn, Commander of the Air Defence – Air Force Service, directed the flight operations.

Major General Vũ Hồng Sơn, Commander of the Air Defence – Air Force Service (second from left) directs the flight operations. Photo courtesy of the Air Defence – Air Force Service

Three helicopters were dispatched. A Mi-171 took off at 7.30am, followed by two Mi-17 helicopters at 8.20am and 10.15am from Hòa Lạc Airport to Gia Lâm Airport in Hà Nội to load relief cargo. Each aircraft carried about two tonnes of supplies, including instant noodles, bottled water, dry food, life jackets, milk and other essential goods.

At 9.50am, the Mi-171 helicopter and, at 10.15am, one Mi-17 aircraft departed to deliver relief supplies to Vân Nham and Yên Bình communes in Lạng Sơn. Later, at 11.51am, the remaining Mi-17 took off to transport aid to residents in Tuấn Sơn Commune.

Beyond these missions, Regiment 916 continues to prepare additional aircraft and remains on standby to carry out further relief flights to other disaster-hit localities.

Also on Wednesday morning, Major General Phạm Văn Tỵ, Deputy Director of the Search and Rescue Department under the General Staff of the Việt Nam People’s Army, said the military had deployed four rescue task forces across Bắc Ninh, Thái Nguyên and Lạng Sơn, the areas hardest hit by torrential rains and widespread flooding caused by the storm’s circulation. Over 30,000 officers and soldiers, along with thousands of boats and rescue vehicles, have been mobilised to support relief operations.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Hồ Đức Phớc and a working delegation visited Lạng Sơn to inspect local response and recovery efforts.

The Deputy Prime Minister instructed authorities to continue relocating residents from flooded and landslide-prone areas to safe places and to ensure sufficient supplies of food and essential goods for affected households. He also urged the province to urgently repair damaged transport infrastructure and restore normal living conditions and production activities as soon as possible.

A preliminary report from Lạng Sơn authorities said heavy rains had injured two people and affected more than 3,000 households due to house collapses, landslides and flooding. The worst-hit communes include Yên Bình, Vân Nham, Hữu Lũng, Tuấn Sơn, Cai Kinh, Thất Khê, Tràng Định and Quốc Việt.

The province has also reported more than 1,080 hectares of crops and four hectares of forest damaged, along with 153 sections of roads affected by landslides and inundation. — VNS

Vân Nham Commune, Lạng Sơn Province is deeply submerged following prolonged downpour. — VNA/VNS Photo