The community turns its attention to the flood-affected area of ​​Ky Son.

Kind hearts in the flood-stricken areas

Returning four days after the historic flash floods in Binh Son 1, Binh Son 2, Son Ha, and Hoa Son villages of Ta Ca commune, Ky Son district, we were still confronted with dilapidated houses surrounded by mud, rocks, and fallen trees; many valuable possessions still lay buried in the mud.

In the early morning of September 2nd, a flash flood swept through Son Ha, Hoa Son, Binh Son 1, Binh Son 2 villages and part of Muong Xen town, Ky Son district.

Kind-hearted people provide relief to flood victims in Ky Son. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Standing in front of his half-buried house, Mr. Vi Van Ky from Hoa Son village sadly said: "The flood was terrible. My wife and I only managed to escape with our lives; we couldn't take anything with us except the clothes on our backs. We only dared to return after two days when the water receded. Four walls of the house were swept away; all our belongings inside, such as beds, tables, chairs, cupboards, television, stove, dishes, etc., were buried deep under mud and rocks and completely destroyed."

The flash flood swept away many houses, belongings, and livestock. Many families were suddenly left with nothing.

“These past few days, our family has received support from organizations and individuals, including 5 million dong in cash, 20 kg of rice, a box of instant noodles, a blanket, a few sets of clothes, and drinking water. Thanks to that, we have been able to have food to eat each day. In the future, if the government allocates a place for us to build a house, our family will move because we don't dare stay here anymore,” Mr. Vi Van Ky said with tears in his eyes.

Mr. Vi Van Ky stands in front of his dilapidated house after the flood. Photo: Xuan Hoang

While being helped by relatives and friends to repair his house, which was swept away by the flood, Mr. Vu Ba Vu in Son Ha village said that on the morning of October 5th, relatives, friends, and villagers came to help dismantle the roof so he could rebuild it. Over the past few days, his family has also received some food and cash from the local government and benefactors.

Reporters from Nghe An Newspaper access the scene after the flood.

Officials from the Ky Son District Farmers' Association visited the home of Mr. Vi Van Ky's family to provide support. Photo: Xuan Hoang.

Mr. Vi Van Truyen, head of Hoa Son village, said that because dozens of families were left penniless after the historic flood, many charitable groups have been bringing goods, food, and drinking water to help the villagers. "This is a great source of encouragement for us to quickly stabilize our lives," Mr. Truyen confided, adding that, in the short term, besides ready-to-eat food and drinking water, the villagers need support with clothing, blankets, household items, production tools, and medicines. In the long term, for severely affected households, the government needs to arrange safe resettlement areas, as the surrounding hillsides of Hoa Son village have many high-risk landslide areas. Many of the village's rice fields have also been buried under thick layers of soil and rocks and need to be restored so that the villagers can have land for production.

People are trying to salvage their belongings from the mud.

Mr. Vu Ba Vu from Son Ha village said that all of his family's belongings were swept away by the floodwaters and their house was also damaged. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Friends, relatives, and villagers helped repair the damaged house of Mr. Vu Ba Vu's family. Photo: Xuan Hoang

On the afternoon of October 5th, efforts to mitigate the aftermath of the devastating flash flood were still underway with urgency. Along National Highway 7, streams of people and vehicles continued to pour into the flood-stricken area of ​​Ky Son.

The Provincial Military Command dispatched 150 officers and soldiers to help people overcome the consequences of the flash flood.

Provincial police forces assisted residents in relocating their belongings.

Among the crowd, we met Mr. Long from Dien Hong commune (Dien Chau district). He confided that as soon as he saw images of the devastating flood in Ky Son district, he and his group of friends had raised some items: instant noodles, drinking water, etc., and transported them directly to support the people, helping them to have something to eat during these difficult times. “The flood was terrible. The people are suffering so much. Hopefully, in addition to the government's concern, the people in the flooded areas will continue to receive the support and contributions of kind-hearted people from all over the country,” Mr. Long said.

Armed forces transport essential supplies into the heart of the flooded area.

One of the fields in Son Ha village was buried under mud and rocks after the flood. Photo: Xuan Hoang

A resettlement area to avoid flooding needs to be arranged.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung inspects the scene after the flash flood.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee visited and offered encouragement to families affected by the floods.

According to statistics from the Ky Son District People's Committee, as of October 5th, the flash flood that occurred on the morning of October 2nd resulted in one death; 232 houses were damaged, swept away, or completely collapsed; and 141 houses were flooded or affected by landslides. The flood swept away two cars belonging to residents, submerged 10 cars, swept away two motorbikes, buried 112 motorbikes and bicycles, and hundreds of other valuable assets were also swept away. The heavy rain and flooding caused severe flooding, landslides, and road blockages on the Muong Xen to Tay Son, Ta Ca, and Nam Can routes.

Philanthropists from all over the country came to Ky Son flood-stricken area to donate gifts and support the local people. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Residents in the flood-affected area of ​​Ky Son receive relief supplies. Photo: Xuan Hoang.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Minh, Chairman of the Ky Son District People's Committee, said: "In recent days, the District Party Committee and the District People's Committee have been making every effort, mobilizing all local resources and coordinating with external units such as the Provincial Police, the Provincial Military Command, and the Provincial Border Guard Command to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts following the floods. These forces have assisted the people, agencies, and units in Block 1, Muong Xen town, and Hoa Son, Son Ha villages in Ta Ca commune in clearing mud and soil from their homes to help them stabilize their lives and return to work as soon as possible. The district has mobilized vehicles from agencies and businesses in the area to work at full capacity day and night to clear and transport mud and soil to quickly reopen the section of National Highway 7 in Block 1, Muong Xen town."

Local organizations and forces are assisting people in overcoming the damage caused by the floods. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The immediate priority is to promptly provide goods, necessities, and supplies to people in flood-affected areas, helping localities and people overcome the natural disaster as soon as possible. Following that, support will be provided for repairing and rebuilding infrastructure, allocating funds to repair damaged transportation systems; and assisting in environmental remediation in flood-affected areas to prevent the spread of diseases and epidemics that could endanger the population.

Organizations and individuals are providing assistance to people affected by flash floods.

In the long term, to help people overcome the consequences of floods, Ky Son district proposes that the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control, and relevant departments and agencies approve the establishment of a resettlement project for households in the flash flood-affected area of ​​Ta Ca commune… to a new, safe location for 150 households on 10 hectares...