Life in Hung Long fishing village after the storm

(Baonghean.vn) - As the storm passed, more than 30 households in Hung Long fishing village were busy moving their boats out of their shelters to return to their daily lives.

As one of the few fishing villages along the Lam River with many households still living on the river, the lives of the people in the fishing village located in village 16, Hung Long commune (Hung Nguyen) have been completely disrupted in recent days by storm No. 10.

Leading us to the fishing village's boat anchorage, Mr. Nguyen Van Dang, Head of Hamlet 16, said: "As soon as the storm was reported, the commune and hamlet officials immediately notified the people to bring their boats to shelters. 30 households in the fishing village were divided into 2 groups, group 1 took shelter in a creek deep inside dike 42 and the mangrove forest. Group 2 took shelter in a creek near the village.

On the morning of September 17, all boats of Hung Long fishing village gathered at the wharf after the recent storm No. 10. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Life on the river is already difficult, but when the storm and flood season arrives, it becomes even more difficult. During the past two days of heavy rain and high water, women and children had to evacuate to the mainland to stay with relatives while the men took turns keeping watch over the waves day and night.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tho (35 years old) started to weigh anchor to move the ship out of the shelter area. Photo: Thanh Quynh

When the storm stopped, since yesterday morning people have started to weigh anchor and move their boats out of the shelter.

As of this morning (September 17), all boats have been brought back to the dock by the people to return to their daily work. According to initial statistics, there has been no significant damage. Some households have started to return to their daily work."

Mr. Nguyen Van Dang (village chief) and villagers checked the boat system and counted the damage before operating the boat. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Next to the net of fish that had just been cast, Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam, who has been drifting on the river for nearly 25 years, said: "The rain and floods have passed, making the amount of fish from upstream flowing into the river more abundant, so my family took advantage of the opportunity to cast the first net last night. So far, we have caught more than 100kg of fish. Some of them weigh nearly 3kg. Transporting sand and gravel across the river will have to wait for another 7 to 10 days, when the water is calm."

Mr. Tran Van Thong has started preparing for new fishing trips. Photo: Thanh Quynh

It is known that Hung Long fishing village used to have 48 households, operating in the river transport cooperative. At that time, the waterway transport industry was quite developed. Over time, this job was no longer popular, some households were forced to migrate to the Central Highlands to live, the remaining people tried to survive by fishing or transporting sand and gravel on the river.

However, the above two jobs do not bring in enough income for households to cover their living expenses. There are households with 3-4 generations living together on a boat, so they face many risks of insecurity during the rainy season.

Children are welcomed back to the boat after days of being left by their parents with relatives on the mainland. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Faced with that situation, in 2014, the authorities of Hung Long commune and Hung Nguyen district had a policy of interlaced land planning to allocate land according to the form of valuation. However, after nearly 3 years, only 18 households were able to be allocated land, the remaining 30 households were still living on the river.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Lam's small joy from the fish caught after the storm. Photo: Thanh Quynh

The storm has passed, and people have returned to their daily lives. But the rainy season is still ahead, and the worries about food, clothing, and the safety of their lives and their loved ones weigh heavily on the shoulders of the people in the small fishing village along the Lam River.

Thanh Quynh