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Despite warnings of rising floodwaters, people flocked to the Lam River to collect firewood.

Annam • September 22, 2024 16:58

Floods from upstream bring with them lots of firewood and timber... During this time, people go to the Lam River to collect firewood, despite the dangers and warnings.

bna_1(1).jpg — Every time the Lam River experiences a major flood, the people of Thanh Chi commune (Thanh Chuong district) gather at Quanh gorge to collect firewood. This is a treacherous location, situated on a rocky mountain, below a deep gorge, with deep, fast-flowing water and very deep riverbanks. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_2(1).jpg — Local people who collect firewood usually stand along the riverbank, using poles with steel hooks or bamboo poles to pull up logs floating in the river. Only those with sufficient strength can pull up logs being swept away by the current. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_3(1).jpg — Many elderly people are involved in collecting floodwater from the river in the Quánh area. Some have decades of experience collecting firewood here during floods. Whether young or old, standing on the bank or sitting in the river, none of them are using life jackets. Photo: Huy Thư

Here, some people stand on the riverbank holding poles waiting for firewood to float by, while others sit right in the riverbed waiting to collect it. Collecting floodwater from the Lam River during the flood season is arduous work, fraught with risks. Photo: Huy Thu

A woman participating in collecting firewood here said: "Local people collect firewood to cook pig feed and make rượu (rice wine). Each flood provides enough firewood for a whole year. In the past, many people went to collect firewood, but now that everyone uses gas stoves, fewer people flock to the Quánh area to collect firewood." (Photo: Huy Thư)

According to locals, the Quánh gorge is already quite dangerous on normal days, but during the rainy season when the Lam River rises and swirls at the foot of Quánh mountain, it becomes even more perilous. People collecting firewood sit on the rocky banks of the river waiting for it. Photo: Huy Thư

This year, the floodwaters passed through the Quánh gorge during the day, under sunny conditions, making the collection of firewood easier and less dangerous. In previous years, the floods came at night, even in the rain, and people would still gather together, carrying flashlights, to collect firewood. Photo: Huy Thư

bna_8..jpg — The firewood that the locals collect here mainly consists of bamboo, reeds, and dry forest trees that have drifted downstream. According to the locals, in the past they used to collect large pieces of firewood, but now they choose smaller pieces because they are easier to burn, as collecting large pieces requires splitting them, which is more laborious. Photo: Huy Thu

While collecting firewood from the flood, some people also found large, long logs or short pieces of mahogany and teak that had been washed up along with the other debris in the river. Sometimes, the wood hadn't even been pulled ashore yet, but people were already coming to inquire about buying it. Photo: Huy Thu

Local authorities have reportedly advised people against collecting firewood from the Lam River during the flood, especially not to use small boats or canoes to collect firewood in the fast-flowing floodwaters. However, people are still disregarding the danger and warnings. Photo: Huy Thu

Video: Huy Thu

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Despite warnings of rising floodwaters, people flocked to the Lam River to collect firewood.

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