Police use rafts to help people in the highlands of Phu Tho overcome floods
Phu Tho - Prolonged floods after storm No. 10 have isolated many mountainous areas of Ngoc Son commune, forcing people to use rafts and plastic pipes to cross the rushing water to travel.
After many days of heavy rain due to the impact of storm No. 10, floodwaters have not yet receded from many highland villages, causing hundreds of households in Ngoc Son commune (Phu Tho) to be isolated.
In the Thung Vien area of Mu Khuong hamlet, about 200m long, the deepest flooded place is more than 15m, also the only route connecting the center of Ngoc Son commune with Tu Do commune (old) - now completely cut off, causing 5 hamlets to fall into isolation.
In the middle of the sea, the rafts are broken into temporary " bridges". Every day, people have to move on rafts to go to work, buy necessities or take their children to school.
Major Ta Phuong Anh - Head of Ngoc Son Commune Police - said that from the night of September 28 to the night of September 30, prolonged heavy rain caused 5 highland hamlets of the commune to be completely isolated.
As of the afternoon of October 5, the flooded area through Thung Vien in Mu Khuong hamlet was still nearly 1m deep. In the next few days, the water level may continue to rise due to the influence of storm No. 11 ( Matmo).
"The police and militia are on duty 24/7 to support and ensure the safety of people when traveling through the deeply flooded road," Major Phuong Anh shared.
In the face of prolonged flooding, the Commune Police have proposed to support a motorboat or canoe for emergency travel, along with 30 life jackets, 20 reflective raincoats and 4 warning barriers to ensure the safety of the people.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Vu Quoc Tam - Chairman of Ngoc Son Commune People's Committee - said that up to now, the forces are still trying to approach the isolated area to support the people. However, because the only road was deeply flooded, all activities depended on temporary rafts, while the weather was complicated.
"If there are specialized vehicles, the provision of food, medicine and taking sick people to the emergency room will be more timely, limiting the risk when the water level is still rising," Mr. Tam shared.
According to Mr. Tam, this is the second time in 2025 that the Thung Vien area has sunk into water. In July, after storm No. 3, this place was also flooded 5-6m deep, paralyzing traffic and greatly affecting people's lives.
Faced with this reality, the commune government has issued a document proposing that the province consider a long-term plan to ensure safety and stable livelihoods for people in areas with frequent flooding.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, on the morning of October 6, storm No. 11 ( Matmo) made landfall in Guangxi province (China) with strong winds of level 12 - 13, gusting to level 15 - 16.
The storm's circulation continues to cause heavy to very heavy rain in the North, with common rainfall of 150 - 250mm, some places exceeding 300mm. In the midland and mountainous areas, including Phu Tho, there is a high risk of flash floods and landslides, especially in areas that have been flooded for many days.
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