Warning of danger to people collecting firewood on the river due to flood

(Baonghean) -After the flash floods in the mountainous districts, many sections of the Lam River downstream were filled with large and small pieces of firewood floating down from upstream. Hundreds of people rushed to the river to collect firewood, despite the lurking danger.

For more than two days now, people in Hamlet 1, Xuan Hoa Commune (Nam Dan District) have been leaving their fields to go to the river to collect firewood. The entire river is packed with people and piles of firewood piled higher than their heads. Firewood comes in all sizes, some of which are almost as big as house pillars. The amount of firewood that floats in is so great that many families bring ox carts and even tractors to the river bank to carry the firewood back.

People raced to the river to collect firewood, regardless of the danger to their lives.

Mr. Tran Xuan Hoan said: “Since yesterday, my family has mobilized all the manpower to go to the river to collect firewood. Every day, we can transport about 20 ox carts. Now we only collect big firewood, we cannot transport all the small firewood.”

Due to the strong flow of water after the flood, many whirlpools are very dangerous, but many children and the elderly still participate in collecting firewood. Many people also wade far from the shore, using their hands to pull large logs to the shore, which is very dangerous. It is thought that the authorities at all levels need to take warning measures to prevent possible damage to the people.

Pham Bang