Dozens of teachers in mountainous areas lost their homes after the flood.

The recent flood has severely affected many schools in Muong Tip and Muong Ai communes. Photo: Duy Khanh

After storm No. 4 passed, heavy rains upstream caused the water level of Nam Non and Nam Mo rivers to rise, causing landslides and flooding of many houses and structures. Ky Son was the area that suffered the most damage in the historic flood, including many schools and teachers' houses in Muong Tip, Muong Ai, and My Ly communes that have yet to be repaired.

Previously, storm No. 3 collapsed the dormitory of teachers at Muong Ai Primary School. Photo: Dao Tho

According to statistics, the flood has swept away 2 students, affected 12 schools, and damaged 53 teachers' houses. Currently, students in some villages still have to wade through mud and cross streams to get to school, and many teachers are forced to rent houses to continue teaching.

Teacher Luong Thi Hoa's house was eroded deep inside. Photo: Dao Tho

After storm No. 3, Ms. Luong Thi Hoa, a teacher at Muong Ai Primary School living in Xop Lau village, hired people to help carry rocks to rebuild her house that had been eroded to the foundation. Part of the wall of the outbuilding collapsed into the stream. Flood after flood, her house is still uninhabitable because the erosion is getting deeper and deeper.

Seemingly still in shock, she recounted: It rained heavily those days, and the water in Tip stream rose higher and higher. Everyone was anxious but no one dared to go there. She had to urge everyone to move their belongings to a safe place. All forces were mobilized to the dormitory of teachers at Muong Ai Primary School next to her house, breaking the locks of the rooms to save their belongings. The next day, the dormitory was completely destroyed.

Many teachers' houses are at risk of being swept away by the river at any time. Photo: Dao Tho

At My Ly Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities, 6 teachers are still living in fear when the flood passes. Teacher Phan Van Giang, who has worked at this border school for nearly 15 years, said: He and his wife borrowed money to buy this house. After buying it, he spent 120 million VND to hire someone to build a very sturdy embankment along the riverbank. But unexpectedly, the flood passed and swept it into the Nam Non River. "Now that the new school year has begun, the whole family of 4 has no place to live and has to rent a temporary house with local people to live and teach," said teacher Giang.

Teacher Phan Van Giang's house was completely swept away by floodwaters, leaving only the foundation. Photo: Ho Phuong

In the same situation as the teacher are the families of teachers Vi Quoc Huong, Vi Van Duong, Nguyen Van Hai, Pham Van Dong and Ms. Phan Thi Thu Hien. Ms. Hien's stilt house, although moved closer to the street by the authorities, is still at risk of collapsing at any time. According to Ms. Hien, the house is currently estimated to be worth about half a billion VND.

After the flood, to stabilize the psychology of teachers entering the new school year, functional sectors and the Ky Son Department of Education and Training called for support for families affected by the damage. However, the immediate concerns are still very great.