Concerns about the flood season

(Baonghean.vn) -The fishing village in Tam Son commune, Anh Son district, was originally located in the lowlands. During their journey upstream on the Lam River, they gathered together to form a small hamlet nestled along the riverbank. Recently, fish and shrimp have become increasingly scarce, and the unpredictable nature of floods has made life increasingly difficult and arduous for the villagers. With the rainy season approaching, the residents of the fishing village are filled with anxiety and apprehension.

Arriving at Tam Son fishing village, we met Mr. Tran Van Duong and Mrs. Pham Thi Hue again. Although nearly 70 years old, Mr. and Mrs. Duong still tirelessly travel up and down the river every day, casting their lines and nets. Mr. Duong has seven children, all with their own families, but they also face many difficulties in life, so despite their age, they still have to make a living on their own. On their small boat, the family's most valuable possession is probably their television, followed by a few small pots hanging on the wall.

A corner of Tam Son fishing village.

Mr. Duong confided: "Nowadays, the weather is so unpredictable that we absolutely have to get a TV to watch the weather forecast so that when there's news of storms, we can find a safe place to take shelter. For the past few years, the hydroelectric dams upstream have been releasing floodwaters, causing them to come very quickly and suddenly, sometimes leaving us no time to react. The scariest thing is the sudden flood at night; if we're not careful, we could be swept away."

Making a living is becoming increasingly difficult for the residents of the fishing village.

Besides the worry about floods, there's also the worry about a lack of clean water leading to illness. The people in the fishing village rely on river water for everything from bathing and washing clothes to cooking. During the dry season, the water is clean and manageable, but during the rainy season, the muddy water still has to be scooped up by boat and allowed to settle before use. This situation isn't unique to Mr. Duong's family; other households like those of Mr. Hung, Mr. Nam, Mr. Hoa, and the entire fishing village share the same predicament.

The river water is murky, but we still have to use it for cooking.



Mrs. Hue's joy at finding some corn along the riverbank.

When the floodwaters arrive unexpectedly in the night, the boats rock, debris washes ashore, and snakes and other reptiles try to crawl in. At such times, the entire village stays awake, watching and hoping for dawn to break and the floodwaters to recede so life can return to normal. At such times, they long for even a small plot of land to build a small house, a safe haven from the storms, to alleviate the anxieties of the flood season. This burning dream, for each resident of Tam Son fishing village, seems still far from reach...

Turn on the TV to check the weather forecast.

Tuong Anh