Approaching the 'many zero' village at the source of flash floods in Ky Son

Across the stream flowing down from the high mountains, the muddy red-yellow water rushed straight down to the Nam Mo stream. In the midday sun, a man sat absent-mindedly on the roof of his stilt house, looking out at the empty space in front, where rocks, trees, and even wooden logs and household items left by the flood were scattered. When asked, he was Moong Van Thi, his house was right next to the small stream. Now, his stilt house only had a tiled roof, the rest was filled with rocks and dirt.

The remains of Mr. Moong Van Thi's house. Photo: Thanh Cuong

“When the flood came at around 10am on October 1st, my father and I only had time to run to higher ground and stood there watching our possessions and houses mixed in the raging water. Now my family of 12 is left empty-handed, without a house, without money, and without food if we don’t get help. Since then, everyone has been staying at the neighbors’ houses,” Moong Van Thi said sadly. Then, Mr. Thi pointed to the rocky land in front of him and added, “That used to be the house of my daughter and her husband. Now there is no trace of the house anymore.”

To the right of Mr. Thi's house is the house of Mr. Moong Van Ly and Mr. Moong Van Thu, both of whom are his cousins. Although Mr. Ly and Mr. Thu's houses were not buried under the rocks and tons of stones, after the flood, the houses were still empty, leaving only the house frame.

Children in Binh Son village receive support gifts, the gift they prioritize choosing is drinking water. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Binh Son 1 village secretary Kha Van Hung said that most of the households that suffered heavy damage or lost their homes were located along the stream. When floodwaters from upstream poured down the stream, they swept away everything on both sides.

Binh Son 1 village has 112 households, the flood has wiped out all 7 houses, collapsed and buried 3 houses; at the same time damaged many shelters of other households. "We now have no house, no money, no electricity, no water, we have lost everything" - Mr. Moong Van Thu expressed.

Ms. Cut Thi Thom asked for more drinking water when receiving the support gift. Photo: Hoai Thu

One day after the flash flood, the authorities climbed mountains and waded through streams, over landslides to assess the damage and provide initial support to the people. On the morning of October 4, some people from Binh Son 1 village also walked along the slopes and rivers to Muong Xen town to receive support gifts. When we were distributing gifts on the roadside, Ms. Cut Thi Thom's group came to ask for more drinking water.

“Please give me some water first,” said Thom, and when she received a water tank, she immediately opened a bottle and drank it all deliciously. The women who came with her also asked for more water because the village’s natural water source had been lost due to landslides for the past few days, and there was no water for daily use.

Officers and soldiers of My Ly Border Guard Station help people in Binh Son 1 village, Ta Ca commune repair their houses after flash floods. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In order to provide timely supplies to households in Binh Son 1 and Binh Son 1 villages, late in the afternoon of October 4, the District People's Committee dispatched excavators to level some landslides so that the village could be accessed by motorbike, making it easier to transport food and materials. Previously, Border Guard units, directly from My Ly station, sent a working group to Binh Son 1 village to help people repair damaged houses. Some benefactors also visited the people to directly give gifts to share with them./.

Hoai Thu - Thanh Cuong