As floodwaters surged across northern Vietnam, a drone operated by Viettel Post flew through heavy rain and rising currents to deliver emergency medicine and essential supplies to a 4-month-old infant suffering from high fever and convulsions in Thai Nguyen Province.
High-Tech Lifeline in a Flooded Region
Severe flooding left five hamlets and more than 1,000 households in Nga My Commune completely cut off from rescue access. With flood depths reaching up to two meters, even rescue boats struggled to reach the affected families safely.
In response, Viettel Post, a subsidiary of the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, deployed a fleet of high-capacity drones designed for emergency logistics. These unmanned aerial vehicles transported food, medicine, and relief goods across submerged zones — and even guided rescue boats through safe routes.
“The use of drone technology has proven invaluable in reaching isolated areas where traditional rescue methods are impossible,” said a representative from Viettel. “This demonstrates how technology can directly serve the community during emergencies.”
200 Drone Missions in 48 Hours
Over October 8–9, Viettel’s drones conducted 200 relief flights, delivering nearly 5 tons of essential goods and performing 30 navigation runs to assist rescue forces. Each drone flight took just five minutes to complete, ensuring rapid support to stranded residents.
Late on October 8, when reports arrived about a baby in critical condition, Viettel’s team immediately launched a drone loaded with medicine and baby supplies. Within minutes, the aircraft successfully crossed the flooded area and dropped the package directly to the family.
Advanced Technology Meets Humanitarian Effort
Each drone boasts a 5 km flight range, 50 kg payload capacity, and operates at altitudes up to 100 meters. With rapid battery-swapping systems, the fleet can run 24 hours a day, even during challenging weather conditions.
Images from the scene showed drones flying through heavy rain and darkness, carrying critical supplies to families trapped by floodwaters — a vivid example of how innovation and compassion can converge to save lives.
Floods Cause Widespread Damage
The floods were triggered by the remnants of Typhoon Matmo (Typhoon No. 11), which brought 250–500 mm of rainfall between October 6 and 7. Water levels on the Cau River exceeded historical records by nearly one meter, inundating large portions of Thai Nguyen.
Preliminary reports indicate that four people were killed, two are missing, and two others were injured. Nearly 200,000 households were affected, and over 4,400 hectares of crops and aquaculture were damaged.
By October 9, water levels had begun to recede, revealing thick layers of mud, debris, and damaged infrastructure. Residents have started cleaning up and restoring their homes as recovery efforts continue.
Technology at the Heart of Disaster Response
The successful rescue operation in Thai Nguyen underscores how Vietnam’s growing tech capabilities, particularly in telecommunications and unmanned aviation, are transforming disaster relief efforts.
What was once a distant vision — drones saving lives amid floods — has now become a real-world example of innovation in service of humanity.
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