Dien Bien (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has underscored the urgent need to carry out search and rescue operations as swiftly as possible to avoid losing critical time that could reduce the chances of saving lives following flash floods and landslides in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien.
On the afternoon of August 1, while directly overseeing rescue efforts and disaster response in the province, Ha instructed the Ministry of National Defence, local authorities, and relevant forces to urgently mobilise all available on-site and mobile resources to search for the missing, treat the injured, and evacuate residents from dangerous areas to ensure the safety of local residents.
He stressed that rescue efforts must be conducted with a maximum speed and efficiency, with on-site command and tight coordination.
Regarding the injured, the Deputy PM directed local authorities to assess the exact condition, location, and severity of each case. For critical cases, emergency treatment must be prioritised, including the use of air ambulances if needed. If the locality's capacity is insufficient, it must immediately report to central authorities for additional support.
To support affected residents, Ha ordered the rapid delivery of food, clean water, medicine, and other essential supplies, stressing that no one is left hungry, cold, or without shelter. He also underlined the importance of maintaining constant communications and hourly updates from the ground.
Dien Bien province was urged to establish a forward command post to coordinate emergency response. The command must be streamlined, decisive, and focused on rapid issue resolution, while local authorities have been instructed to strictly monitor hydropower reservoirs to protect downstream areas.
Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee Le Thanh Do reported that local officials were working with mobile network providers to restore communications, particularly in high-priority areas.
Viettel was coordinating the setup of transmission lines from the command centre to key locations. Heavy machinery was being deployed to open blocked roads, and efforts were underway to restore electricity to over 15,000 households affected by the failure of more than 95 transformer stations.
As of the evening of August 1, local authorities were focusing all available resources on clearing access to central communes. Dien Bien Power Company was working to restore electricity to these communes and to reconnect villages where possible, ensuring seamless communication for rescue operations.
Medical teams had been dispatched to provide first aid on-site. Families whose homes were destroyed or at risk had been relocated to safe locations such as schools and clinics. Initial emergency supplies were being distributed.
Ha ordered the complete evacuation of residents from hazardous areas to safe shelters and called for the provision of temporary housing, tents, and blankets.
He also instructed local authorities to re-evaluate residential planning in high-risk areas, upgrade infrastructure to better withstand natural disasters, and quickly repair schools and prepare learning materials so children can return to school for the new academic year.
Looking ahead, he urged Dien Bien to review and re-train all commune-level and grassroots disaster response protocols, and to invest in backup communication equipment to ensure connectivity during emergencies.
According to a preliminary report, prolonged heavy rains from the night of July 31 to the morning of August 1 caused severe floods and landslides across the province, leaving seven were dead, seven injured, and three missing.
More than 231 households were affected, including 17 homes completely swept away and numerous others that lost all belongings. Forty homes were submerged, three were severely damaged by landslides, and five villages were inundated.
Several roads remain blocked by landslides, cutting off access. Electrical systems in many neighbourhoods have been destroyed, leaving large areas without power./.
