Alongside local authorities and on-site forces, the commune police forces have closely stuck to their designated areas and the people, promptly supporting evacuation, rescue, and natural disaster consequence remedy efforts, thereby becoming a solid anchor for the people amid hardships.

On the night of July 9, as rain continued to pour down over Mường Tùng commune, the family of Khoàng Văn Thiên in Mường Tùng village discovered that the foundation of their stilt house showed signs of slipping after hours of heavy downpours, threatening the safety of the entire family. Upon receiving the news, the command leaders of the Mường Tùng commune Police mobilized a maximum force of 20 cadres and soldiers, who promptly teamed up with the forces participating in grassroots-level security and order protection to rush into the village.

Under dark and rainy conditions with slippery village roads, the cadres, soldiers, and villagers urgently supported the family to evacuate children and the elderly, moving all assets to a safe place. From daily household items to rice, farming tools, and essential supplies, everything was quickly moved out of the landslide-prone area by the police force and local residents.

Major Lương Việt Cường, Chief of the Mường Tùng commune Police, stated: “Immediately upon receiving the alert, the Commune Police Command mobilized the entire force to cooperate with grassroots-level security and order teams to support the family in evacuating people and assets to safety. We determine that in any situation, the top priority task remains guaranteeing the lives and property of the people.”

By the time the final loads of belongings reached safety, everyone was soaked to the skin from the rain. However, what brought the greatest peace of mind was that Thiên’s entire family had been relocated away from the dangerous zone before any worst-case scenario could unfold.

Deeply moved by the timely support of the police soldiers, Khoàng Văn Thiên shared that his family was extremely grateful to the police officers, noting that without them, they would not have known how to manage. He added that despite the dark night and heavy rain, the officers arrived very quickly, helping them move their belongings and bringing the whole family to safety, which gave them much greater peace of mind.

Assisting Khoàng Văn Thiên’s family in Mường Tùng village was just one of many situations where the police forces of Điện Biên’s highland communes directly participated in supporting residents during the recent heavy rains. Every midnight call and every report of a landslide meant that the cadres and soldiers would immediately hit the road.

In Pa Ham commune, prolonged heavy rains over several days caused rocks and soil to cascade onto the road surface and trees to collapse at multiple points along National Highway 6, specifically the section from Km449 to Km459 within the territory of Hát Tre and Phi Công villages, as well as the inter-village road from Hát Tre to Há Là Chủ village, making local travel highly difficult. Immediately after grasping the situation, the Pa Ham commune Police deployed forces to coordinate with grassroots-level security elements to urgently implement remedy measures.

Over two days, July 8 and 9, the commune police cadres and other forces cut down fallen trees, shoveled away rocks and soil, and cleared drainage ditches, while concurrently placing warning signs at dangerous locations and guiding vehicles to circulate safely. The working atmosphere at the landslide points was urgent yet well-coordinated, with some sawing trees, some shoveling soil, and others regulating traffic, all sharing the same goal of restoring smooth passage to the roads early to facilitate local travel, cargo transport, and disaster response tasks.

From early morning, Lieutenant Quàng Văn Thoan from the Pa Ham commune Police and his teammates were present at a landslide spot, focusing on clearing rocks, soil, and trees from the road surface. While holding a shovel to clear the remaining soil that slid onto the road, Lieutenant Thoan shared that prolonged heavy rains cause frequent landslides across many areas, posing high risks of human and property losses. Therefore, the commune Police coordinate with functional forces to patrol the routes, promptly detecting incidents and supporting the public, with a firm determination to always remain proactive and arrive at the earliest whenever people are in need to protect public lives and assets.

Also in the early hours of July 9, following hours of prolonged heavy rain, a volume of rocks and soil slid into the houses of several households in Village 36, Na Sang commune. Immediately after catching the situation, the Na Sang commune Police mobilized 26 cadres and soldiers to coordinate with local party committees, authorities, and standing forces to quickly arrive at the scene, supporting residents to remedy the consequences. While one group shoveled mud and soil, another participated in moving furniture, and others helped bring items to dry areas. The police force also reviewed areas prone to further landslides, guiding residents to proactively relocate away from unsafe positions.

For many households, the timely presence of the police force not only helped mitigate losses but also infused them with peace of mind during difficult times, because when natural disasters strike, what people need most is not just physical labor to overcome the aftermath, but also companionship and sharing from the very first hours. Just as the work in Village 36 stabilized temporarily, the cadres and soldiers of the Na Sang commune Police proceeded into Huổi Xuân village, which was also affected after the heavy rain, working alongside the village Management Board and residents to quickly clear rocks and soil, cut away broken trees, and open up blocked spots.

Up to the current moment, the landslide points have been basically handled, and the roads are open to motorbikes, creating favorable conditions for local travel. Nevertheless, inspections of areas at risk of landslides are still maintained regularly to respond promptly if the weather continues to evolve in a complex manner.

The territory of Pú Nhung commune also recorded multiple landslide points, leaving the road at the entrance of Thớ Tỷ village blocked, while the border area between Giàu Háng Chua and Phình Cứ saw several new landslide spots, and the routes up to Xá Nhè and from Đề Chia B to Chua Lú were also affected, complicating local transit. The Pú Nhung commune Police coordinated with the local government to mobilize forces to clear rocks, soil, and fallen trees to step-by-step reopen the routes, while working groups also placed warning signs at dangerous zones, guiding residents and vehicles to select safe itineraries.

Mud-covered boots and clothes soaked through after hours of immersing themselves in the rain reflect a deep understanding of the people’s worries and anxieties before natural disasters. Therefore, whenever receiving an alert, what the officers think of is how to arrive as fast as possible to be present when the public needs them.

Major Lương Việt Cường, Chief of the Mường Tùng commune Police, added that every action, no matter how small, demonstrates the spirit of “When the people need, when the people face difficulties, the Police are there.” He emphasized that this is not merely a slogan but the responsibility of each grassroots-level police cadre and soldier, who are always ready to appear when needed, contributing to guaranteeing security and safety and joining hands with the villagers to overcome hardships.

What remains after the days of rain and floods is not only cleared roads, houses cleaned of mud, or households relocated to safety, but also the image of grassroots-level police soldiers always present in the most arduous places, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the people to overcome disasters. In the highland villages of Điện Biên, where each rainy season harbors numerous dangers, the timely presence of the police force not only helps minimize damages but also becomes a solid anchor, further fostering the people’s trust.