Attending the meeting were members of the Provincial Standing Committee, leaders of the Provincial People's Council, People's Committee, and leaders of various provincial departments and agencies, as well as leaders of Tran Yen, Yen Binh districts, and Yen Bai city. The meeting was also connected via video conference with Van Yen and Luc Yen districts.

As of September 11, with floodwaters receding in the Red river (Hong river) and Chay river, relief and recovery efforts are actively underway in affected areas. Key vulnerable and hard-to-reach areas have been accessed, with essential supplies delivered to the people. Electricity has been restored to Yen Bai General Hospital and several locations in Tran Yen district and other areas.

However, some 110 kV power transmission lines remain at risk due to erosion near the pylons. Yen Bai Power Company has mobilized forces to address the issues while ensuring public safety and restoring power as quickly as possible.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of Yen Bai People’s Committee Tran Huy Tuan delivering a speech 

Fuel supply for relief efforts has been secured, with equipment, transportation, and storage facilities prepared to ensure fuel delivery to areas in need. Essential goods are also abundant and readily available. The information and communication sector continues to disseminate vital information through the media, keeping the public informed.

Recovery of BTS broadcasting stations is also in progress, with around 69% of stations restored. Some telecom companies are assisting with communication recovery, although network quality is still being improved from 2G to 3G.

Social welfare support is being provided, with efforts focusing on identifying damage and prioritizing aid to the most vulnerable households. Voluntary support activities for isolated communities are also ongoing.

Healthcare services remain on standby to assist the injured. Medical teams are working to restore operations at isolated health centers. The health sector has been spraying disinfectants and sanitizing affected households in Yen Bai city and Tran Yen district, as well as assessing the need for water treatment supplies to ensure safe drinking water.

Vice Chairman of Yen Bai People's Committee Ngo Hanh Phuc delivering remarks at the meeting

On National Highway 37 through Yen Bai city, certain sections remain submerged or blocked by landslides. The transportation sector is working to clear the roads. National Highway 70 also remains impassable due to significant landslides, while the water level in Thac Ba reservoir has receded, reopening the route to Luc Yen district’s center. The transportation department is assessing the safety of bridges over the Red river (Hong river) and Chay river.

Efforts are underway to continuously supply water for cleaning and sanitation, while the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is assessing landslide-prone areas and relocating affected households. Water supply infrastructure is also being inspected and repaired to ensure clean water access.

Irrigation structures are being repaired to restore water supply for agricultural production, and support teams are helping localities recover farming activities. The status of landslide-affected radio transmission towers is also being evaluated to ensure long-term operational safety.

The provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations are mobilizing support from other regions, organizations, and individuals. Relief goods are being distributed to affected localities, and over VND 19 billion has been donated by 32 organizations and individuals, with 56 relief teams delivering goods.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy providing directive remarks at the meeting

In heavily affected areas such as Luc Yen, Van Yen, Tran Yen, Yen Binh, and Yen Bai city, authorities are continuing to monitor landslide areas to ensure public safety. They have also called on the power and telecommunications sectors to restore services as soon as possible. Additional support has been requested for gabion baskets to repair roads connecting villages and rural areas.

Local authorities are also looking for land to resettle households whose homes have collapsed or are in dangerous areas, while timely support is being provided to those who have suffered losses or injuries. Efforts are underway to repair the damaged dyke in Trấn Yên to salvage recoverable mulberry fields.

At the meeting, Chairman of Yen Bai People’s Committee, Tran Huy Tuan, praised the efforts of provincial departments, agencies, and localities in disaster recovery. He urged them to focus on restoring transportation routes, ensuring connectivity as soon as possible, and assessing the damage to infrastructure caused by the disaster. He also called for social organizations to mobilize forces to support recovery efforts and to expedite the reception of aid.

Chairman Tran Huy Tuan also emphasized the need to identify resettlement land for those whose homes were destroyed or who need to be relocated from dangerous areas. Support for schools in repairing classrooms, furniture, and educational materials is also being prioritized, with policies in place to help students return to school.

Minister Do Duc Duy commended the efforts of the entire political system, from the provincial level to the grassroots, for their proactive, scientific, and innovative approaches, which have yielded positive results. He noted that Yen Bai province has received support from across the country to address the consequences of the disaster.

The Minister urged the province to focus on rescue and relief efforts, continue searching for missing persons, and relocate residents from unsafe areas. Residents who have been evacuated should not return until safety can be ensured. The water level at Thac Ba hydropower plant must also be monitored to determine when evacuated households can return. Special attention should be paid to funeral arrangements for disaster victims, medical care for the injured, and social welfare policies for those affected by the disaster. A scientific and reasonable distribution of resources to support the people is crucial.

Minister Do Duc Duy also called for urgent action to ensure the restoration of transportation and telecommunications, which are critical for effective command and rescue operations. The provision of essential services, such as electricity, water, fuel, and communication, must be prioritized. Efforts to clean up landslides, ensure environmental sanitation, prevent disease outbreaks, and secure clean water, particularly in public areas like schools and health stations, should also be accelerated.

He stressed the immediate implementation of housing and resettlement policies for affected people, alongside the restoration of infrastructure, such as transportation, irrigation, clean water, and drainage systems, particularly in flooded areas.

Minister Do Duc Duy concluded by highlighting the importance of agricultural and aquaculture recovery efforts, with an emphasis on crop adaptation, as well as maintaining security, public order, and social welfare. The goal is to restore normalcy to people's lives as quickly as possible.

Finally, he emphasized the need for effective communication regarding the province's disaster recovery efforts and called for the mobilization of maximum resources, including the military, police, youth, teachers, and machinery from local businesses and residents, to accelerate recovery.

Ngoc Huyen (NRE Magazine)