Heart-stopping sight of teachers in the highlands of Nghe An crossing flooded streams to get to school

Minh Khue• August 4, 2019 17:57

(Baonghean.vn) - Heavy rains and floods caused the water levels in streams to rise, and rocks and soil on both sides of the mountains to slide down, endangering pedestrians. However, on the first day of school, teachers in the highlands of Nghe An still had to cross flooded streams to get to school in fear.

These days, in the western region of Nghe An, there is moderate to heavy rain. The water level in streams also rises and overflows the roads, making travel difficult.
In Muong Ai commune (Ky Son district), dozens of serious landslides occurred on the road from Muong Xen and further in, posing a danger to road users.
The weather was complicated and travel was difficult. However, on the first day of school, hundreds of teachers in Muong Ai and Muong Tip communes still had to climb forests and cross flooded streams to get to school to ensure work time.

The teachers had to ask local people to help them get their vehicles across the stream.

Teacher Quang Thi Van - Vice Principal of Muong Ai Kindergarten said: The distance from Muong Xen to the school is only 38 km but it takes nearly 5 hours for the teachers to get there. When they go, they often make appointments to go in groups so they can support each other in times of difficulty and danger.
For the sections they could not overcome by themselves, they had to ask for help from local people.
"The water is knee-high and the current is very dangerous. I have fallen off my bike several times since this morning. So have the other women. However, crossing the stream is not as scary as a landslide. I was riding my bike in the middle of a slippery road and worried about rocks falling on me," Ms. Van shared.
According to teachers working in this area, every rainy season they face many difficulties in traveling because this is currently the road most heavily affected by the floods in Ky Son district. "Getting to school is a difficult task, hopefully it won't rain anymore so the teachers can go to the small villages. In the small villages it is equally difficult because of terrible landslides" - said Ms. Phan Thi Tuyet, Principal of Muong Ai Kindergarten.

Minh Khue