As a mountainous district with a complex terrain and unstable geology, Nậm Pồ experiences heavy rainfall from May to October, which often leads to prolonged rainfalls, thunderstorms, and hail, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides. According to the Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Steering Committee of Nậm Pồ, in 2024 alone, the district witnessed over 12 natural disaster events, mainly heavy rain causing landslides and soil subsidence, resulting in loss of lives and property for local residents. Specifically, 101 houses had their roofs blown off; 122 households were affected by flash floods and landslides; 43 houses were at risk of being affected by landslides or flooding. At the school site of Na Cô Sa Ethnic Boarding Primary School, 8 toilets, 6 student bathrooms, and 1 student dormitory were damaged. At Nậm Khăn preschool, cracks appeared with risks of subsidence, endangering both the school’s facilities and the surrounding residents’ property and lives. Damages also included 0.508 hectares of fish ponds completely washed away, 4.05 hectares of pine trees uprooted by more than 70%, and significant damage to roads, water pipelines, and sanitation infrastructure. The total damage caused by the natural disasters was estimated at VND 73 billion.

In 2024, Na Cô Sa commune was repeatedly hit by flash floods, flash floods, and landslides. During the heavy rains, many households had to be evacuated urgently. Vàng Văn Chuyển, Chairman of Na Cô Sa commune People’s Committee, said: “We did not wait for residents to report issues but proactively went to landslide-prone areas, checked the situation, and created a list of households in danger to evacuate them quickly. We also intensified communication efforts to create consensus among the people, mobilizing maximum local forces to help dismantle houses, move belongings, and provide food to ensure the safety and stability of people’s lives.”

The family of Giàng A Ký from Huổi Thủng 1 village in Na Cô Sa commune was required to move due to the high landslide risk in their area. To assist the Ký family, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nậm Pồ district provided 30 million VND to help them build a new house in a safer location. Ký shared: “I thank the Party, the State, and the local authorities for supporting us with money and labor to help dismantle the house and move our belongings. Now, we’ve built a new wooden house in a safe location, allowing us to work and rebuild our lives with peace of mind.”

Hạng Nhè Ly, Vice Chairman of Nậm Pồ district People’s Committee, said: “With the principle of ‘proactive prevention, timely response, urgent and effective recovery, prioritizing prevention,’ the district has directed all agencies and units to closely monitor weather and hydrological developments, ensuring effective forecasting and warning systems. The Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Steering Committee of Nậm Pồ and the communes have directly checked the situation, identified areas at high risk of landslides and flash floods, especially areas with people, schools, and government offices. We have increased communication efforts, guiding people on how to recognize the signs of landslides and flash floods, providing them with skills to proactively respond to disasters and minimize damage.”

For households requiring urgent relocation, the district’s Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Committee mobilized local forces to help dismantle houses, move people and belongings to safer places. In 2024, Nậm Pồ district supported 54 households who were affected by natural disasters and had to move their homes. For minor housing damage, the district directed local authorities to encourage self-repair efforts, involving youth, militia, and citizens to help with labor.

Looking ahead to 2025, the weather is expected to remain unpredictable, with the likelihood of flash floods, landslides, and storms, particularly in remote areas with poor transportation access. Therefore, before the storm season, the Nậm Pồ district People’s Committee and Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Steering Committee have developed a plan to proactively respond to the upcoming monsoon season, aiming to reduce damage to people’s lives and property. The plan clearly assigns responsibilities to organizations and individuals in disaster prevention activities according to legal regulations, ensuring the effective implementation of the “four on-the-spots” principle (on-the-spot command, on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot equipment and supplies, on-the-spot logistics) and the “three readinesses” principle (readiness for pro-active prevention, readiness for timely response, readiness for rapid and effective recovery), tailored to local conditions.

The district also directed all levels, departments, and communes to review vulnerable points at risk of landslides and flash floods, to develop protection plans and evacuate people, livestock, and property from dangerous areas when necessary. Close coordination with local armed forces was organized to conduct training and drills to prepare for disaster response and rescue activities, ensuring the highest possible effectiveness. Additionally, traffic safety and infrastructure restoration plans are being reviewed and implemented to ensure seamless transportation during disaster situations. Public awareness and skill training for disaster prevention, particularly for flash floods and landslides, are also being promoted, with accurate and timely information provided during disasters.

It is hoped that, with thorough preparation of plans, equipment, forces, and cooperative solutions, combined with appropriate adaptation measures, Nậm Pồ’s disaster prevention efforts, guided by the “four on-the-spots” and “three readinesses” principles, will help minimize the damage caused by future floods and other natural disasters.