YÊN BÁI — Residents in the northern mountain province of Yên Bái are rushing to dig themselves out of mud and debris after serious floods in recent days.

Mud and rubbish has reportedly covered many places in Văn Chấn, Mù Cang Chải, Văn Yên districts, Yên Bái City and Nghĩa Lộ Township, seriously polluting environment and residential areas.

More than 2,500 houses and roads in Yên Bái City have been flooded. Soldiers and thousands of local residents have worked to repair the damage.

The province has mobilised more than 220 excavators and water cannons to clean the roads for traffic safety.

The provincial Department of Health has provided chemicals for water treatment and guided people to prevent epidemics.

Meanwhile, 1,850 houses and some 11km of roads in Hà Nội’s Chương Mỹ District are underwater, mostly in Nam Phương Tiến, Tân Tiến and Hoàng Văn Thụ communes.

Flooding also devastated nearly 1,870ha of rice, 213ha of other crops, 47ha of fruit trees and 263ha of aquaculture farms in the commune. The local steering board for disaster prevention, search and rescue said some local houses collapsed while several concrete canals and dyke sections were eroded. Water, instant noodles and other food has been provided to residents in flooded areas.

Local residents also received chemicals for water treatment.

Vice Chairman of Hà Nội People’s Committee Nguyễn Văn Sửu ordered district authorities to survey the flooding situation to help locals recover. They also need to examine and reinforce irrigation works. 

While the municipal Department of Health has to work with the localities to clean the environment, the Department of Construction was asked to help repair damaged houses. 

The Hà Nội Power Corporation was directed to resume electricity supply for the settlement of flood consequences. 

According to Hà Nội Red Cross Society, about VNĐ320 million (US$13,900) has been mobilised from organisations, agencies and individuals to support 1,000 households in communes affected by flooding in Chương Mỹ District. — VNS