Boat helps Thanh Chuong people cross flood for free

During a reporting trip to the flood center of Bich Hao district.Thanh ChuongRecently, we witnessed a rescue team from Phu Lap hamlet, Thanh Xuan commune on a motorboat to transport people and goods in an area isolated by floodwaters. This is a boat that children of Phu Lap hamlet who work far from home donated to the hamlet to buy as a rescue vehicle during the days when floodwaters rose high, isolating the village.

The Rescue Team of Phu Lap hamlet on a motorboat purchased with money donated by children working far from home, operating regularly during the days of floodwaters. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, an elderly person in Phu Lap hamlet, said that in his house, there are only two elderly and weak people. During the days when the flood waters rose, he relied on the rescue team to help him move his belongings to safety; when he needed goods, drinking water, food, or medicine, he could call them and they would be there immediately.

Mr. Nguyen Van Canh - the village chief of Phu Lap village said: During the historic flood of 2020, many people in the village had to be rescued or had urgent work, but there were no means on site. Therefore, I thought of a way to call on my children who work far from home to support money to buy a motorboat to have a means of transportation during the days of isolation by flood water.

Currently, people use small boats made of wood, corrugated iron... in the days when flood water rises and separates them, which is unsafe and untimely. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Immediately after that appeal, children working at home and abroad donated 30 million VND. With that money, the village bought a motorboat worth 27 million VND, and the remaining 3 million VND was used to buy fuel for operations. After buying the boat, the village established a rescue team of 20 people, all of whom knew how to drive a boat. Since then, every time there was a flood and the village was isolated, the rescue team used the motorboat to operate continuously. From transporting people and property to a safe location, supporting necessities... to children going to school, people in need, especially when someone was sick or giving birth and needed to go to the hospital.

"Like during these flood days, over the past 5 days, the rescue team has been working continuously, in addition to supporting 42 flooded households, they have also transported some children to school, provided emergency aid... in a timely manner. Emergency cases, children to school and support for people to escape the flood are completely free of charge," Mr. Nguyen Van Canh shared.

According to Mr. Nguyen Khanh Thanh - Secretary of Thanh Xuan Commune Party Committee, it is very necessary for the children of Phu Lap hamlet to support the hamlet in purchasing motorboats for rescue, meeting the local means in the hamlet. However, currently in the commune, only Phu Lap hamlet has been able to purchase motorboats to rescue the people.

Rural areas often cut off by floodwaters need motorboats to transport people and goods when necessary. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Tran Phi Hung - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Chuong district said: During the rainy season, Thanh Chuong district, especially Bich Hao area, is often deeply flooded, dozens of villages and hamlets are isolated by flood water, people mainly travel by boat.

Currently, very few localities buy their own motorboats like in Phu Lap hamlet. Mostly, people use small boats made of wood and corrugated iron to move around in narrow areas, which is unsafe and ineffective./.

Xuan Hoang