In anticipation of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, the Da Nang City Military Command is constructing helicopter landing zones in mountainous communes to support disaster preparedness and emergency rescue during the storm season.

On July 4, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Huu Ich, Commander of the Da Nang City Military Command, confirmed that the unit is implementing a helicopter landing pad project in Tra Tap commune (formerly Tra Cang in the old Nam Tra My district) with a budget of approximately USD 275,000.

This initiative comes amid forecasts of a complex and volatile rainy season. Even during the dry season in June, several riverside communes experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in severe landslides. In areas like the former Nam Tra My district - frequently affected by storms and landslides - rescue and relief operations are often hindered by road disruptions.

To address this, the Da Nang City Military Command recommended an emergency order from city authorities to begin construction of the landing pad in Tra Tap. The site will not only store essential supplies and food for disaster relief but also serve as an aerial transit hub to transport people and goods when roads are cut off.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Ich, the landing zone will play a vital role in delivering food, medicine, and aid to isolated mountainous communes, while also facilitating search and rescue operations during critical emergencies.

The unit is also proposing that Da Nang’s People’s Committee issue another emergency order to construct a second helicopter landing zone in Hung Son commune (formerly Axan in the old Tay Giang district), with an estimated cost between USD 275,000 and USD 393,000.

The project has been surveyed and a construction plan agreed upon with Air Defense Division 372, with the goal of proactively responding to disasters during this year’s rainy season and beyond - especially in the former Nam Giang and Tay Giang districts.

In 2021, the Da Nang City Military Command completed a helicopter landing zone in Phuoc Thanh commune (formerly Phuoc Son district) with a budget of approximately USD 196,000.

That facility has significantly enhanced emergency response efforts in recent years. It serves as a critical supply depot, complete with dedicated storage facilities, ready to deploy ahead of each storm season.

Ha Nam