The Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation went by boat to inspect the flooded area in Phieng Nghe village, the most seriously flooded area in Chieng Den commune, Son La city. At the same time, they listened to the report of the Provincial People's Committee on the work of overcoming the consequences of natural disasters in the recent floods.

Reporting to the Government delegation, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said: Last July, Son La province was affected by 3 heavy rains, causing flash floods and landslides. Natural disasters killed 11 people, injured 6 people; more than 2,600 houses were damaged, of which 252 houses were urgently evacuated, 117 houses were severely damaged from 50-70%, 751 houses were flooded from 1-3m, 113 houses were flooded over 3m...

Natural disasters also affected 29 schools, many landslides and traffic jams on national and provincial highways; more than 4,000 hectares of rice were flooded and washed away; 82 irrigation works and 11 clean water works were damaged, affecting more than 3,200 households without water for daily use... The total estimated damage in July was more than 500 billion VND, of which, due to the impact of storm No. 2 and the circulation of storm No. 3 from July 22-31, the damage was more than 487 billion VND.

As soon as the disaster occurred, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Committee, and the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control directed districts and cities with the "4 on-site" motto, assigning members of the Steering Committee from district to commune level to directly go to the scene of the affected areas to direct the evacuation of people, relocate and protect constructions, and temporarily arrange safe accommodation for people.

Organize rescue efforts at isolated locations, organize search and rescue forces, provide first aid to injured people, and search for missing people; direct the implementation of disaster recovery work to quickly stabilize the lives of people in disaster-affected areas.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, together with rescue forces from the Provincial Military Command, Mobile Police Battalion No. 2 - Northwest Mobile Police Regiment - Mobile Police Command, Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department and Rescue of the Provincial Police promptly moved to Hua Pu village, Chieng Noi commune, Mai Son district - where the landslide buried 3 households and 5 people. After less than 1 day, with the synchronous participation of the forces, the search for missing people was completed, in addition, timely implementation of policies and gifts were given to visit and encourage households with dead and injured people.

Regarding the work of overcoming the consequences, so far, the authorities have found 8/8 missing people. Timely support households in flooded and landslide areas to move their assets to safe places, ensuring security and order in disaster-affected areas. Organize disinfection and sterilization to prevent epidemics for people and livestock in disaster-affected areas.

Along with that, focus on repairing the traffic system, irrigation, domestic water, electricity, healthcare... Districts have mobilized people to provide temporary housing for people who have lost their houses and arranged cultural houses for temporary accommodation. Review and submit to the province's policy to deploy concentrated residential arrangement points for households whose houses have been completely washed away, collapsed and landslides that must be urgently relocated. Collect statistics, verify, and develop agricultural support plans to soon restore production for people.

On August 2, the People's Committee of Son La province announced a natural disaster emergency to respond to heavy rain, flash floods, landslides, and inundation in Son La city and four districts of Yen Chau, Mai Son, Song Ma, and Thuan Chau.

In Son La city alone, during the recent flood, the city suffered over 103 billion VND in damage, 936 houses were flooded and landslides. Of which, in Chieng Den commune, 94 households were affected by floods, including 40 households whose houses were buried by landslides; 54 households were deeply flooded; 3 kindergartens and primary schools were damaged; more than 78 hectares of crops were eroded and flooded; 1,145 poultry were killed and swept away... In Phieng Nghe village in Chieng Den commune, 39 households were flooded and had to move; 3 households had landslides; 30.8 hectares of crops were flooded...

Immediately after the flood, the leaders of the City People's Committee and the City's Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control assigned and divided teams to be present at the scene of flooding and landslides to promptly direct and mobilize rescue forces, clear the flow, and clear roads, ensuring that traffic was not cut off or flooded for a long time.

Direct the implementation of the 4 on-site motto; mobilize police and military forces to be present at key points to focus on overcoming consequences, evacuating households in flooded areas and areas at high risk of landslides to safe places. Organize online meetings with communes, wards, specialized departments and offices to agree on urgent tasks that need to be implemented.

After listening to the reports of relevant units and sharing with the people in the disaster area, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long conveyed the Prime Minister's warm regards and sympathy for the damage, difficulties and losses of Son La province, especially the people in areas affected by flash floods, landslides and prolonged flooding. At the same time, he acknowledged and highly appreciated the proactive spirit and timely participation of the provincial leaders and the rescue forces of the province and city in responding to floods and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters; the proactiveness and self-awareness of the people in preventing natural disasters.

In the context of the current complicated developments of natural disasters, the Deputy Prime Minister requested Son La to focus on ensuring the safety of people's lives, especially in directly affected and at-risk areas such as Phieng Nghe.

Continue to evacuate people from dangerous areas; care for, look after, and encourage families who have suffered human losses; support people to soon stabilize their lives. Provide food, medicine, and essential necessities to people, so that people do not go hungry or have no home.

Find solutions to overcome flooding, restore public facilities such as schools, hospitals, etc. Raise vigilance and be careful with natural disasters, because it is only the beginning of the rainy season, so it is necessary to continue to check and post warning signs in areas at risk of landslides and rapid flooding; pay attention to carefully warning about traffic to continue to be proactive, minimizing damage and unexpected incidents.

In the immediate future, the Prime Minister has decided to provide Son La with 10 billion VND in emergency support. Son La province, along with the province's balanced capital, will continue to carry out rescue work, take care of families with deceased people, and continue to partially support housing construction costs for affected households.

In the long term, the Working Group noted the difficulties of Son La province to report to the Government. It is recommended that the province urgently study, make specific assessments, propose short-term and long-term solutions, and report to the Prime Minister and relevant ministries and branches to have more specific solutions in responding to and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters.