Warning of danger to people collecting firewood on the river due to floods

(Baonghean) -After the flash floods in mountainous districts, many sections of the Lam River downstream were filled with large and small logs of firewood floating down from upstream. Hundreds of people rushed to the river to collect firewood, despite the lurking danger.

For more than two days now, people in Hamlet 1, Xuan Hoa Commune (Nam Dan District) have been putting down their farming work and going to the river to collect firewood. The entire stretch of river is packed with people and piles of firewood piled higher than their heads. Firewood comes in all shapes and sizes, some pieces are almost as big as house pillars. The amount of firewood that floats in is so great that many families bring ox carts and even tractors to the riverbank to carry the firewood back.

People raced to the river to collect firewood, regardless of the danger to their lives.

Mr. Tran Xuan Hoan said: “Since yesterday, my family has mobilized all the manpower to go to the river to collect firewood. Every day, we can transport about 20 ox-carts. Now we only take big firewood, we cannot carry all the small firewood.”

Because the water flow after the flood was strong and there were many dangerous whirlpools, many children and the elderly still participated in collecting firewood. Many people also waded far from the shore and used their hands to pull large logs to the shore, which was very dangerous. It is thought that the authorities at all levels should take warning measures to prevent possible damage to the people.

Pham Bang