"I only had time to throw my child ashore, helplessly watching my wife being swept away by the flood."

“My wife is dead,” Moong Van Loi cried out, searching desperately in the raging stream. No one could hold back their tears as his wife, Moong Thi Tuyet, remained beneath the floodwaters, her body yet to be found. Up on the bank, his children sat on the grass by the roadside, occasionally calling out, “Where is Mom?”

Moong Van Loi looked dazed as he recounted the story of his wife being swept away by the flood. Photo: Tho Tuan

At noon on August 18th, the sun began to shine after a day of torrential rain. The oppressive heat couldn't dispel the chilling sensation of looking down at the roaring Thu stream. A group of people remained gathered near Xieng Thu village (Chieu Luu commune, Ky Son district) searching for the body of Moong Thi Tuyet (also known as Moong Me Tan, 37 years old), who was swept away by the flood on the afternoon of August 17th. Everyone felt exhausted after more than a day of searching, but seeing the heartbreaking cries of the victim's husband, they continued wading into the stream to continue their work.

It was very difficult for us to contact Moong Van Loi, and it took him quite a while before he could speak because the pain of losing his wife choked him up, turning into sobs. He will probably never forget the horrific images from yesterday for the rest of his life.

He recounted that he and his wife lived happily together and had three children. The youngest, Moong Van Cuong, is currently in 7th grade at Chieu Luu Ethnic Boarding Junior High School. On the afternoon of August 17th, because of some urgent matters, the parents of Cut Van Thon asked him and his wife to pick up their child from school.

Around noon, as they crossed the flooded bridge between Xieng Thu and La Ngan villages, the surging floodwaters began to frighten everyone. However, the water was rising rapidly, and if they didn't cross quickly, they might be stranded. Leaving their daughter on the other side of the river, the couple, holding their child's hand, along with Ms. Chich Thi Quang and their nephew Cut Van Thon, hurried across the bridge.

Moong Van Cuong, the son of Mr. Loi, is still in shock as he recalls the scene of his mother being swept away by the flood. Photo: Tho Tuan

“When we reached the middle of the river, everyone screamed in panic because the current was too strong to hold on. Going forward was impossible, and turning back was too late. In just a split second, all five of us were swept away,” Moong Van Loi recalled in shock.

“As soon as we fell, I quickly grabbed my child and, along with a few others, drifted away. At that moment, my wife was struggling in the strong current, shouting, 'Help! Help!' But if I had let go of my child then, the child would have died too, and I might not have been able to save my wife,” Lợi said, choking back tears as he wiped away the tears streaming down his cheeks.

After drifting about 500 meters, his foot landed on a rock at the bottom of the stream. Moong Van Loi gathered his strength and threw his child onto a patch of grass about two meters away. He said sadly, "My child was standing on the bank crying desperately, shouting, 'Dad, save Mom!' At that moment, my wife had already been submerged. I watched helplessly as the raging water swept her away, my heart aching terribly."

Neighbors gathered, anxiously awaiting news of Ms. Moong Thi Tuyet. Photo: Tho Tuan.

After that moment, Moong Van Loi was like a man possessed. The pain of losing his wife froze into choked sobs. He desperately ran everywhere searching. He groped his way through the Thu stream, his eyes red and swollen, his mouth continuously calling out his wife's name in anguish.

By 5:15 PM on August 18th, the body of Moong Thi Tuyet had been found more than 5km away. The pain had lessened somewhat, but the haunting memories and tears still streamed down Moong Van Loi's weathered face.