Vietnam: What actions are taken when floods, storms, incidents, or natural disasters occur on railways?

Vietnam: What actions are taken when floods, storms, incidents, or natural disasters occur on railways? (Illustration image)

According to Article 23 of Circular 01/2010/TT-BGTVT, when floods, storms, incidents, or natural disasters occur, the Steering Committee for flood and storm management; response to incidents and natural disasters, and rescue at all levels in railway operations must proactively implement the prepared plans and choose suitable response methods to handle the incidents most effectively. Units directly affected by floods, storms, incidents, or natural disasters are required to immediately perform the following specific tasks:

- Railway management companies shall:

+ Organize close patrols and protection in areas affected by floods, storms, incidents, or natural disasters and conduct regular inspections; promptly lock down or reduce speed when structures show damage and pose a threat to train safety;

+ Immediately mobilize emergency forces, materials, equipment, and transportation means, and be ready to implement rescue operations;

+ In vulnerable areas, establish additional temporary patrol schedules. In necessary cases, use inspection trolleys before allowing trains to run;

+ Especially in areas with upstream irrigation or hydropower dams, keep updated on the water discharge situation of the dams and coordinate measures to protect roadbeds, bridges, culverts, or constructions at risk of being submerged or washed away during water discharge.

- Railway signal AND information companies must immediately mobilize backup communication equipment (including manpower) to ensure continuous and smooth communication while deploying emergency forces ready for rescue operations.

- Railway transport companies, stations, train crews, and onboard staff must organize the protection of trains, passengers, and cargo; arrange the transfer of passengers and cargo when ordered by the General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation or the Head of the Steering Committee for flood and storm management; response to incidents and natural disasters, and rescue of Vietnam Railways Corporation, or the Chief of the railway transport company as per the hierarchy.

- In areas affected by floods, storms, incidents, or natural disasters, construction units within the railway land must proactively cooperate with railway infrastructure management companies and related units to rescue affected structures or those at risk of being damaged. All units must take responsibility for cooperating with local forces and the Railway Inspectorate to maintain order and security in the areas under flood, storm, incident, or natural disaster control and strictly adhere to the commands of the superior Steering Committee for flood and storm management; response to incidents and natural disasters, and rescue, ready to assist other units when mobilized to remedy the consequences caused by floods, storms, incidents, or natural disasters.

- In cases where floods, storms, incidents, or natural disasters occur beyond the capacity of local manpower, materials, and industrial backup equipment, the unit must urgently request higher authorities to mobilize manpower, materials, and equipment from other units to aid in flood, storm, incident, or natural disaster response activities. The material and equipment transfer procedures must comply with statutory regulations to serve as a basis for payment and reimbursement.

More details may be found in Circular 01/2010/TT-BGTVT effective from February 25, 2010.

Nguyen Phu

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