Stories recorded after the flood

(Baonghean) - The historic flood that swept through Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district caused significant damage to the people of Quynh province. In times of hardship and difficulty, the bond between the military and the people, and between compatriots, has been rekindled and strengthened. Above all, the sharing and mutual support of organizations, groups, and benefactors inside and outside the province are helping and encouraging the flood victims to overcome their difficulties and hardships…

The flood has passed, but the pain remains.

After days of storms and heavy rain, the town began to clear up. A gentle breeze blew in from the Hoang Mai River. Just yesterday, the river was so muddy and ferocious, but today it was surprisingly calm and peaceful. It had been a long time, perhaps more than half a lifetime, since the people of Quynh had witnessed such a massive flood. With trembling hands and chewing betel nut, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tri (Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune) recalled: “I don’t remember exactly, but it was probably around 1970-1971, there was also a very big flood, with water everywhere. But compared to this year, it’s nothing. In just a few hours, the water had flooded the rooftops, and all the rice, chickens, and pigs were swept away into the river and the sea…”

In conversations with these simple, honest farmers, there was no hint of blame or resentment towards the "cause" of the flood, but their eyes held a pitiful sadness. In this rural area, every household cultivates a few acres of rice, raises a couple of pigs, and a few dozen chickens… Yet, the flood swept away and submerged everything. The day the floodwaters receded, we visited the home of Mr. Le Cong Duc in Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune. He and his wife have three children. To provide for their children's education, they borrowed money from the bank to invest in raising 500 chickens and 2 deer. But the flood struck, killing them all. Watching them pluck feathers and gut the dead chickens to salt them for later consumption was heartbreaking and distressing. "Since the day I was born, I've never seen a flood as terrifying as this. The water was just reaching the edge of the yard, and before I knew it, it was already up to the doorstep. Who could possibly cope or escape in time? After this, I'm sure some of my children will have to drop out of school," said Mr. Duc, sighing deeply.

The raging flood spared no one, whether poor or rich, ferociously sweeping through and taking everything away. Nguyen Huu Truat (Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune), a successful farmer in his early 40s, owned a large farm that generated hundreds of millions of dong in income annually. Many in the village envied his family's success. But suddenly, the flood swept through, leaving him and his wife penniless. As he cleaned up his farm, his voice was filled with sadness, as if trying to console himself: “It’s not just my family here; many others have also lost everything after the flood. But never mind, ‘better to lose possessions than lives.’ My wife and I will work together to start over.”

In Quynh Di ward, the property losses are even greater. While speaking with reporters, the Party Secretary of the ward, Nguyen Van Quang, looked distraught: “60 hectares of shrimp farms and 45 hectares of freshwater fish farms in the ward were swept away into the river and sea. That's not including dozens of hectares of rice and other crops that were damaged, thousands of livestock and poultry that died, and 7 boats that sank or were damaged. The damage from this flood is beyond our imagination.” Every flood causes damage, whether little or much, but what is happening before our eyes is truly horrific. Holding the quick report from the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town on the damage “caused by typhoon No. 10,” everyone felt pain: 2 people died, one person is missing, 180 hectares of rice, 620 hectares of vegetables, 250 hectares of shrimp, and 120 hectares of freshwater fish farms were completely destroyed, and millions of livestock and poultry died. The total estimated damage amounts to 800 billion VND!

For a young town, that number is absolutely staggering!

Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, along with the delegation from Ho Chi Minh City, presented financial assistance to people in flood-affected areas.

The military and civilians joined forces.

It is during times of hardship and difficulty that the close and unwavering bond between the military and the people becomes apparent. Floodwaters surged in a short time, submerging thousands of homes and leaving many lives hanging by a thread. But under the close guidance of the Party Committee and the provincial government, thousands of soldiers, police officers, militia members, and youth union members bravely faced danger, plunging into the raging floodwaters to evacuate victims in time. Therefore, despite the extremely high flood levels, casualties in the flooded communes were kept to a minimum.

When the floodwaters receded, the streets and villages were left in ruins. At this time, the bond between the military and the people, between officials and the people, became even more apparent, like "fish and water." Images of soldiers and police officers wading through floods, heavy rain, and strong winds to rescue people, or enduring the scorching sun to help people clean up, rebuild houses, repair dikes, and renovate schools and hospitals... Wherever the people needed them, soldiers were there, wholeheartedly serving.

Medical personnel of the Border Guard Command of the province distribute medicine to the people. Photo: HT

Under the direction of the provincial military command, hundreds of soldiers from various departments have been directly deployed to the communes and wards of Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district in recent days to help people overcome the consequences of the disaster. It was already 11 a.m., but the soldiers of the 152nd Battalion of the Staff Department were still diligently sweeping and carrying tons of earth and rocks from the Thinh My block cultural center in Quynh Thien ward to the road. Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Son, the platoon leader, said: “When we received orders from our superiors, all the soldiers were present on time to help people overcome the consequences. No matter how difficult or arduous it is, we will still try our best to complete the mission.”

Immediately after the devastating flood, 100 officers and soldiers from the Provincial Border Guard Command, the D19 Training Battalion, and the Quỳnh Phương and Quỳnh Thuận border guard posts of the Nghe An Border Guard, led by Lieutenant Colonel Le Nhu Cuong - Deputy Head of Political Affairs, were deployed to Quỳnh Lưu district and Hoàng Mai town to help the people overcome the consequences of the flood. In Quỳnh Trang commune, Hoàng Mai town, Hamlet 5 suffered the most severe damage. Border guard officers and soldiers went to each household to help clean up and rearrange houses after the flood, sanitize villages, clear drainage ditches, and collect waste to ensure environmental hygiene.

In the ponds and lakes of Quynh Trang and Quynh Vinh communes, the pollution is severe, with a strong, pungent odor. To address the environmental problems after the floods, the Nghe An Border Guard has deployed medical personnel and a supply of medicine to the heavily flooded villages in Quynh Trang and Quynh Vinh communes, Hoang Mai town. They are directly providing medical examinations and treatment, distributing free medicine, spraying disinfectants, and, most importantly, preventing the spread of diseases after the floods.

According to Doctor Tran Linh Hien, people in flood-affected areas often suffer from illnesses such as conjunctivitis, athlete's foot, and gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases due to environmental pollution, requiring timely treatment. To provide timely examinations and free medication to the people, the Border Guard's medical force has deployed three specialist doctors to directly examine and distribute free medicine. According to the plan, the Nghe An Border Guard will maintain a presence in the two communes of Quynh Vinh and Quynh Trang for five days to serve the local needs and help people quickly overcome the consequences of the floods and stabilize their lives.

From the very first days of the floods, following directives from higher authorities, the Hoang Mai Town Police Youth Union directly entered the flood-stricken areas, promptly rescuing 50 people trapped in the raging floodwaters and bringing them to safety. Ho Dang Khoa, Secretary of the Hoang Mai Town Police Youth Union, proudly stated: “During the recent floods, the officers in our Youth Union excellently fulfilled their duties. Many braved the late night, rain, and wind, plunging into the floodwaters to rescue people, including Comrade Dang Phu Thanh – who single-handedly rescued 6 people from the swirling currents.” After the floodwaters receded, 35 members of the Hoang Mai Town Police Youth Union were present in full force, going to schools and hospitals in Mai Hung and Quynh Thien wards to clean and wipe down desks, chairs, and classrooms... "The longer we delay cleaning, the more classes the students miss. Without being told, the members of the Youth Union always work wholeheartedly, striving to complete the work as quickly as possible," shared Lieutenant Ho Sy Trinh, from the Administrative Management Team of the Hoang Mai Town Police.

In addition to forces from the Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Border Guard, and the town's police, in recent days, hundreds of youth union members from Quynh Luu district, high school students from Hoang Mai, and grassroots youth union members have simultaneously mobilized to clean up throughout the neighborhoods and villages. Wherever the volunteer forces went, the consequences of the storm and floods were addressed. Amidst the pain and loss of the flood victims, the enthusiasm of the youth has ignited hope and unwavering optimism to overcome the difficulties.

Humanity in times of hardship

After days of storms and heavy rain, the weather in Hoang Mai town has warmed up with sunshine. The sun's rays in early October are not scorching or harsh, but enough to dry the wet rice grains of the flood-affected people. At the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town, relief teams from within and outside the province are bustling in and out. The images and information about the historic floods that occurred in Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district, reported by the press in recent days, have touched hearts across the country. From the distant Mekong Delta, Mr. Vo Hong Anh – Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho city – led a delegation to donate 100 million VND to support the flood victims in Nghe An. On October 4th, a delegation from Ho Chi Minh City, led by Mr. Nguyen Van Ranh – Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the City Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Department – ​​also directly visited and donated 600 million VND to support the flood victims in Nghe An.

Soldiers help residents clean up their homes after the floods. Photo: HT

Earlier, a delegation from the Northern Food Corporation also donated 50 tons of rice; Buddhist monks and nuns from Dai Tue Pagoda (Nghe An) and Phap Hoa Pagoda (Ho Chi Minh City) donated 50 million VND, 500 boxes of instant noodles, and 300 sets of school uniforms.

Responding to the call of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Nghe An province, organizations, associations, businesspeople, and enterprises inside and outside the province have mobilized officials, members, and philanthropists to donate and form numerous relief teams to deliver gifts and financial support to people affected by the recent floods.

With a haggard and weary face after many sleepless nights, Comrade Doan Hong Vu, Secretary of the Hoang Mai Town Party Committee, said: “The recent floods caused heavy losses of life and property in Hoang Mai Town. But this young town has received attention and felt the spirit of mutual support, sharing, and assistance from organizations, associations, and individuals inside and outside the province who have come to share and encourage the people of the town to overcome this difficult and dire period. On behalf of the Party Committee and the people of Hoang Mai, I would like to express my sincere and profound gratitude to all agencies, associations, and businesses.”

Text and photos: Trieu Duong - Hai Thuong