Stories recorded after the flood

(Baonghean) - The historic flood that swept through Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district caused a lot of damage to the people of Quynh. In times of hardship and difficulty, the solidarity between the army, the people, and the people was rekindled. Above all, the sharing and mutual love of organizations, unions, and "Manh Thuong Quan" inside and outside the province are helping and encouraging people in the flooded areas to overcome difficulties and hardships...

The flood passes, the pain remains

After days of storms and rain, the town began to see sunshine. A gentle breeze blew from the Hoang Mai River. Just yesterday, the river was still muddy and fierce, but now it was strangely calm and gentle. It had been a long time, perhaps more than half a lifetime, that the people of Quynh had witnessed such a big flood. With trembling hands and chewing betel, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tri (Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune) recalled: “She doesn’t remember clearly, but probably around 1970-1971, there was also a very big flood, everywhere was covered with water. But compared to this year, it was nothing, in just a few hours the water had already flooded the roof, rice, chickens and pigs were all swept away by the water to the river and the sea”…

In the conversation with the simple farmers, we did not see any reproach or anger about the "cause" of the flood, but their eyes were sad and pitiful. Being a rural area, every family grows a few acres of rice, raises a couple of pigs, a few dozen chickens... However, the flood passed, swept away and submerged everything. The day the flood receded, we visited Mr. Le Cong Duc's house in Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune. He and his wife had 3 children. To have money to send their children to school, they borrowed money from the bank to invest in raising 500 chickens and 2 deer. However, the flood came and killed them all, not a single one left. Seeing the couple plucking the feathers and gutting the newly dead chickens to salt and eat gradually, we could feel the pity and sorrow. “Since I was born, I have never seen such a terrible flood. The water was just at the edge of the yard, and by the time I turned around, it was already at the doorstep. Who could have coped with it or run in time? After this, some of my children will probably drop out of school,” Duc said, sighing deeply.

The flood does not spare anyone, whether poor or rich, they ferociously pass through and take everything away. As a fairly good economic family, Mr. Nguyen Huu Truat (Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune) is just over 40 years old and already has a large-scale farm, which brings in hundreds of millions of dong in annual income. Looking at his family's business, many people in the village wish to be like that. But suddenly, the flood came and turned him and his wife into penniless people. While cleaning up the barn, his voice was sad as if he was consoling himself: "Here, not only my family but also many families also accepted that their assets were "zero" after the flood. But "money is gone instead of people", the couple worked together to start over."

In Quynh Di ward, the loss of property was much greater. While talking to reporters, the face of the ward Party Secretary Nguyen Van Quang was full of sadness: "60 hectares of shrimp, 45 hectares of freshwater fish of the ward were all swept away to the river, to the lake. That is not to mention dozens of hectares of rice and crops were damaged, thousands of livestock and poultry died, 7 boats sank and were damaged. The damage of this flood is beyond our imagination." Any flood causes damage, no matter how small or large, but what is happening before our eyes is too horrifying. Holding in hand the quick report of the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town on the damage "caused by storm No. 10" everyone was in pain: 2 people died, 1 person missing, 180 hectares of rice, 620 hectares of vegetables, 250 hectares of shrimp, 120 hectares of freshwater fish lost, millions of livestock and poultry died. Total damage is estimated at 800 billion VND!

For a young town, that number is terrifying!

Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the delegation of Ho Chi Minh City presented support money to people in flood-affected areas.

Military and civilians join forces

In times of trouble and hardship, we can see the close bond between the army and the people. Floodwaters flooded thousands of houses in a short time, leaving many lives hanging on the brink of death. However, under the close direction of the Party Committee and the provincial authorities at all levels, thousands of soldiers, police, militia, and union members bravely faced danger and rushed into the raging flood to evacuate the victims in time. Therefore, although the flood peak was very high, the loss of human lives among the people in the flooded communes was limited to the lowest level.

When the flood receded, the streets and villages were devastated and ruined. At this time, the relationship between the army and the people, between the officers and the people, was even more evident, like "fish and water". Images of soldiers and policemen wading through floods, heavy rains and strong winds to rescue the people, or standing in the scorching sun to help people clean up, rebuild houses, rebuild dikes, repair schools, hospitals... Wherever the people needed, there were soldiers serving wholeheartedly.

The provincial Border Guard's medical force distributes medicine to people. Photo: HT

Under the direction of the provincial military command, hundreds of soldiers from various departments have directly gone to the communes and wards of Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district in recent days to help people overcome the consequences. It was 11:00 a.m. but soldiers of BTR Company 152 of the General Staff Department were still diligently sweeping and carrying tons of rocks and soil from the Thinh My cultural house in Quynh Thien ward to the street. Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Son - platoon leader said: "When receiving orders from superiors, all soldiers were present on time to help people overcome the consequences. No matter how difficult or arduous, we still tried to complete the task."

Immediately after the great flood, 100 officers and soldiers of the Provincial Border Guard Command, Training Battalion D19 and 2 border posts of Quynh Phuong and Quynh Thuan, Nghe An Border Guard, led by Lieutenant Colonel Le Nhu Cuong - Deputy Chief of Political Affairs, were deployed to Quynh Luu district and Hoang Mai town to help people overcome the consequences of the flood. In Quynh Trang commune, Hoang Mai town, hamlet 5 was the most severely damaged. Border guards went to each house to help clean up and arrange houses after the flood, clean up villages, clear sewers, and collect garbage to ensure environmental sanitation.

In the ponds and lakes in Quynh Trang and Quynh Vinh communes, the pollution is very serious, the stench is very strong, to solve the environmental problem after the flood, Nghe An Border Guard sent medical forces, along with a lot of medicine to directly go to the villages that were heavily flooded in the flood in Quynh Trang and Quynh Vinh communes, Hoang Mai town to directly examine and treat patients, distribute free medicine, spray disinfectants and especially prevent pathogens that arise after the flood.

According to Dr. Tran Linh Hien, people in flood-affected areas often suffer from diseases such as pink eye, athlete's foot, and diseases related to the digestive and respiratory tracts due to environmental pollution that need to be treated promptly. In order to promptly examine and provide free medicine to people, the Border Guard's medical force has arranged for 3 specialist doctors to directly examine and provide free medicine to people. According to the plan, the Nghe An Border Guard will maintain its forces in the two communes of Quynh Vinh and Quynh Trang for 5 days to serve the needs of the locality to help people quickly overcome the consequences of the flood and stabilize their lives.

Right from the first days of the flood, following the instructions of the superiors, the Hoang Mai Town Police Department directly went to the flood center, promptly rescued 50 people trapped in the fierce flood area, and brought them to safety. Secretary of the Hoang Mai Town Police Department Ho Dang Khoa proudly said: "During the recent flood, the soldiers in the department excellently completed their tasks, many people did not mind the late night, rain and wind, jumped into the flood water to save people, including comrade Dang Phu Thanh - who single-handedly saved 6 people in the middle of the whirlpool". After the flood receded, 35 members of the town police force were present 100% at schools and hospitals in Mai Hung and Quynh Thien wards to clean and wipe tables, chairs, classrooms... "Every day the cleaning is delayed, the students will miss that day's class. No one in the union force told anyone but always worked hard, trying to complete the work as quickly as possible" - Lieutenant Ho Sy Trinh - Administrative Management Team, Hoang Mai Town Police confided.

In addition to the forces of the Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Border Guard, and the town police, in recent days, hundreds of youth union members of Quynh Luu district, Hoang Mai high school students, and grassroots union members have simultaneously mobilized to clean up all the blocks and hamlets. Wherever the volunteer force went, the consequences of the storm and flood were overcome. In the pain and loss of the people in the flood-affected areas, the enthusiasm of youth has kindled hope and optimism to firmly overcome difficulties.

Humanity in times of trouble

After days of storms and rain, the weather in Hoang Mai town has warm sunshine. The rays of the early October sun are not scorching or dry, but enough to dry the wet rice grains of people in the flooded areas. At the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town, relief groups from inside and outside the province are bustling in and out. Images and information about the historic flood that occurred in Hoang Mai town and Quynh Luu district, transmitted by the press in recent days, have touched many hearts across the country. From the distant Mekong Delta, comrade Vo Hong Anh - Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee led the delegation to present 100 million VND to support flood victims in Nghe An. On October 4, the working delegation of Ho Chi Minh City led by comrade Nguyen Van Ranh - Standing Committee member, Head of the City Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission also directly visited and presented 600 million VND to support flood victims in Nghe An.

Soldiers help people clean up their houses after the flood. Photo: HT

Previously, a delegation from the Northern Food Corporation also came to present 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, unions, associations, businessmen, enterprises... inside and outside the province have mobilized cadres, union members, members, benefactors to donate, support and establish many relief groups to give gifts and money to support people affected by the recent floods.

With a haggard face, exhausted after many sleepless days, but the Secretary of Hoang Mai Town Party Committee - Doan Hong Vu said: "The recent flood has caused heavy damage to people and property in Hoang Mai Town. However, the young town has received the attention, felt the spirit of mutual love, support, sharing, and help from organizations, unions, and individuals inside and outside the province who came to share and encourage the people of the town to overcome the difficult and miserable period. On behalf of the Party Committee and people of Hoang Mai, let me send my sincere and deep thanks to all agencies, unions, and businesses."

Article and photos: Trieu Duong - Hai Thuong