I. The Synopsis of Floods and Rains:
(According to Bulletin No.170/PCLBTW,
issued by the Standing Office of the Central Committee for Flood and Storm
Control in Hanoi at 10:00 AM on 07 December 1999).
1. Rain:
From 01 to 06 December 1999, mean rainfalls in the Central Provinces were as follows:
In Thua Thien- Hue Province: mean rainfall
was at 300 to 500 mm, notably 666 mm at the Phu Oc gauging station.
In Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Da Nang, and the North of Khanh Hoa Provinces,
mean rainfalls were at 600 to 1000 mm. In some gauging stations, mean rainfalls
were over 1000mm, like:
+ In Quang Ngai Province: mean rainfall in Son Giang Commune was at 1902
mm, in Ba To Commune was at 1974 mm, in Minh Long was at 1803 mm.
+ In Quang Nam Province: notably in Xuan Binh District (upstream of Phu
Ninh Reservoir) mean rainfall was about 2000 mm (1988 mm).
2. Flood and Inundation:
Due to heavy rain, concentrating in a short period, the flood water levels on rivers from Thua Thien-Hue to Khanh Hoa rose rapidly. Notably, flood water levels on rivers in Quang Ngai Province were at historical level in 1964. The flood water level on the Tra Khuc River at the Tra Khuc gauging station was 0.35 m surpassed the historical level. The flood water level on the Ve River at the Ve River Bridge gauging station was 0.24 m surpassed the historical level.
By now, the flood water levels on rivers from Quang Nam - Da Nang to Binh Dinh - Khanh Hoa continued to fall. In the morning on 07 December 1999, flood water levels on rivers from Quang Nam to Binh Dinh are fluctuating below Alarm Level III. Flood water levels on other rivers from Thua Thien-Hue to Khanh Hoa Provinces fell below Alarm Level II.
Although the flood water levels on rivers fell but there was still serious inundation in Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Quang Nam Provinces:
In Quang Nam Province:
Deep inundation mainly concentrated in Tam Ky Town, Dien Ban, Hoi An, Duy
Xuyen, and Nui Thanh Districts. Hundreds of houses were still in deep inundation.
Thousands of evacuated people cannot return to their homes and are waiting
for supply of medicine, foods, and other necessities.
In Quang Ngai Province:
Many areas are still under water. Evacuated people cannot return to their
homes. Land transportation in 15 communes and 58 mountainous communes are
blocked, causing difficulties for relief missions. People in deep inundation
areas are facing serious shortage of foods and fresh water.
In Binh Dinh Province:
Flash flood occurred in Hoai An District. Hoai Nhon District and areas
surrounding Quy Nhon City are still under water, causing many difficulties
for relief mission.
3. The Synopsis of Reservoirs and North - South Transportation:
+ At the Phu Ninh Reservoir: the highest
flood level measured at 07:00 on 05 December 1999 was at 34.44 m. This
is the highest level in 19 years, since the Reservoir went into operation.
At 06:00 on 07 December 1999, the flood water level in the Phu Ninh Reservoir
was at 32.57 m.
+ Six portions (from Km950 to Km1077) of the 1 National Highway were 0.3
to 1.7 m under water. Transportation in these points is still paralysed.
Transportation in Quang Nam Province is cleared out.
+ Railway was eroded at the Km944+150 point. As planned, it will be made
through by 09 December 1999.
II. Damages caused by flooding:
As of 19:00 on 06 December 1999, according to preliminary reports, the situational damages are as follows:
People:
+ Dead: 92 (of which, 21 in Quang Nam
Province, 41 in Quang Ngai Province, 13 in Binh Dinh Province, 8 in Khanh
Hoa Province 5 in Thua Thien-Hue Province, and 4 in Phu Yen Province)
+ Injured: 59
+ Missing: 12 (11 in Quang Ngai Province and 1 in Hue)
Houses:
+ Collapsed or swept away: 5,359
+ Destroyed:
397,232
+ Moved: more than 11,475
+ Need relief:
80,000
Paddy crops destroyed:
28,779 ha
(See attached Table for details)
III. The Activities in response to Floods:
In late afternoon on 06 December 1999, the Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Cong Tan listened to the CCFSC's general reports. He also phoned the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee of Quang Ngai, requesting him to get approaches, by all means, to people in the mountainous districts of Quang Ngai.
In the afternoon of 06 December 1999, Minister Le Huy Ngo paid an inspection tour to check the flood and inundation situation in Hoai Nhon, Hoai An Districts. In the evening, the Minister worked with the Provincial People's Committee of Binh Dinh to draw out measures in response to flooding and inundation.
The CCFSC sent Official Telegrams to the Provincial People's Committees of Quang Ngai and Quang Nam to inform them with the transportation progress of aid commodities so that these provinces can actively receive and distribute aid commodities to flood-affected people.
At 06:00 on 06 December 1999, the Ministry of Defence carried 2,000 life buoys to the Giap Bat Station and the Viet Nam Railway Association transported these life buoys to the Tam Ky Town.
The Southern Foods Corporation delivered
promptly 100 tones of instant noodles in the night of 5 December 1999 at
the Song Than Station. This volume of noodles was transported immediately
to Duc Pho Station (Quang Ngai Province) at 4 p.m., 6 December 1999 as
requested by the Official Telegraph No. 57 CD/PCLB.
In Da Nang City, 100 tones of instant noodles were mobilised. 40 tones
of this volume were distributed to Quang Ngai Province and 60 tones were
distributed to Quang Nam Province as requested by the Official Telegraph
No. 58 CD/PCLB. 472 life buoys also transported by train to Quang Ngai
Province.
The Ministry of Industry directed all the corporations under its administration to destock the raincoats to help the people in flooded areas (Quang Ngai and Quang Nam Provinces received 100,000 raincoats).
At night on 05 December 1999, the Provincial People's Committee of Binh Dinh assisted 14 tons of instant noodles to Duc Pho, Mo Duc Districts of Quang Ngai Province. In the morning of 07 December 1999, 10 tons more were sent to Quang Ngai to meet the Province's emergency relief requirements.
Th CCFSC also requested the Prime minister for approval of supplying 100,000 sets of clothes for Quang Nam Province and 200,000 sets for Quang Ngai Province.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a meeting on rehabilitating water resource works and destroyed dykes and embankments. Plans on preparing and supplying seeds for flood-affected provinces as soon as the floodwater falls are also of great concern in the meeting.
The National Committee for Relief and
Rescuing submitted a report on relief missions to the Prime Minster.
Due to great effort of people and local authorities and timely supports
from the Central Government, relevant Sectors, and appeal movements, damages
and losses caused by flooding are minimised.
IV. Urgent activities needed to be done at present:
Mobilise local forces for rescuing people and provide emergency relief for flood victims in heavily flooded areas. Prepare everything to mitigate the flood consequences.
Quickly rehabilitate water resource works and eroded dykes. Prepare seeds, livestock, veterinary medicine, water supply, and environmental sanitation in supporting to production as soon as floodwater falls.
Rehabilitate destroyed transport lines
to facilitate relief mission and stabilisation of people's lives and production.
Provide health care treatments to people. Prevent epidemics from spreading.
Distribution:
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Cong Tan
The Central Office of the Party
The National Assembly Office
The President Office
The Government Office
Relevant Ministries and Sectors
Viet Nam News Agency, Viet Nam Television, the Voice of Viet Nam
Nhan Dan Newspaper
Records Director of the Standing Office of the CCFSC
Nguyen Ty Nien