Residents in Tra Van join hands to build storm shelters (Photo by Tan Thanh)
Local officials said 700 people were mobilised since early September to construct the shelters using bamboo and rattan collected from the forest. Roofing sheets and other materials were borrowed from local construction projects.
Nguyen Thanh Quyen, head of Village 1, said two shelters are being built this season, with more than 40 residents working at each site. One has been completed, while the other is nearly finished, expected to house around 100 people during floods.
The commune also uses school kitchens and empty rooms to store food and essential supplies. Longer term, authorities have proposed building eight permanent community storm-shelter houses.
In recent years, Tra Van has been hit by storms, floods, landslides and flash floods. Deadly landslides in 2017 and 2020 caused severe damage and long-lasting impacts on local livelihoods and infrastructure.