Cao Bang provincial forces search for missing victims of a landslide in Lung Ly hamlet, Ca Thanh commune, Nguyen Binh district.
In the midst of difficulties, there have appeared many examples, deeds, actions and relief groups, kind hearts are joining hands day and night, unanimously helping people in flood-hit areas overcome difficulties and stabilize their lives.
Support, search for landslide victims with determination and hope
In the recent flood and landslide, as of 5:00 p.m. on September 12, Cao Bang province had 45 deaths, 15 injuries, and eight missing people. The entire local political system, with a spirit of urgency and determination, is overcoming the consequences of the natural disaster. Along with that, Cao Bang province has mobilized more than 8,800 people to search, rescue, and support the affected people with high determination. In Nguyen Binh district, at 5:45 a.m. on September 9, at Km180+680 of National Highway 34, through Khuoi Ngoa hamlet, Ca Thanh commune, 03 cars and 09 motorbikes were buried by landslides, pushed into the stream, and swept away, many people are missing... Currently, the forces are still urgently and resolutely searching and rescuing victims, especially at three locations: Khuoi Ngoa hamlet, Lung Ly hamlet (Ca Thanh commune), Lung Sung hamlet (Yen Lac commune).
At these three locations, 39 people died, 14 people were injured, and 14 people are missing. Police, military, and local forces overcame difficulties such as slippery roads, landslides, and fast-flowing streams to search and rescue victims.
Hundreds of officers, soldiers, police, and civil forces, with calloused hands, clothes, and faces covered in mud; quick meals, makeshift accommodation, but with a spirit of urgency, at all costs to find the missing people as soon as possible.
Lieutenant Colonel Luong Dinh Leu, Political Commissar of the Nguyen Binh District Military Command shared: "From September 9 to now, 64 officers, soldiers, and militiamen of the District Military Command have been on duty at the scene to carry out rescue work, search for missing people. Thoroughly implementing the direction of the Ministry of National Defense's leaders, we always determine that "human life is above all, first". With the spirit of "where there is difficulty and danger, there are soldiers", the unit's forces have searched, rescued, and overcome the consequences of natural disasters with affection and responsibility for the people. The unit's forces, including three comrades, Commander, Deputy Commander, Deputy Political Commissar of the Nguyen Binh District Military Command, along with officers, soldiers, and militia forces, have participated in the search and rescue work with high determination and responsibility".
According to Lieutenant Colonel Luong Dinh Leu, at the Military Command of Nguyen Binh district, on September 11 and 12, the comrades on duty at the unit received and transported three trips with more than three tons of goods transported by the army by helicopter to Nguyen Binh district. On the morning of September 12, more than three tons of goods were transported by the force to people in landslide and flood affected areas.
According to the report of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee, the locality has mobilized more than 8,800 officers and soldiers of the armed forces and local forces, along with 5,308 vehicles, equipment, and supplies of all kinds to search, rescue, and find missing people.
Accompanying the locality, the forces of Military Region 1 were also present early to participate in search, rescue, and overcome the consequences. A helicopter of the 18th Army Corps, Ministry of National Defense flew and transported relief goods to people in Nguyen Binh district. Localities provided essential goods, evacuated people and property to 2,374 families affected by natural disasters. Medical facilities mobilized the best human resources, medicine and medical supplies to focus on treating injured people in landslides in Nguyen Binh district.
Sharing the efforts to respond to the consequences of natural disasters, search and rescue of the locality, comrade Tran Hong Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee said: The locality identified tasks that have been done, are being done, must be done soon, and completed soon, including search and rescue; supporting people, ensuring social security; overcoming landslides, clearing roads, restoring power supply in areas affected by natural disasters... to stabilize people's lives.
Military forces help people in Bac Giang overcome the consequences of storm No. 3.
Shining examples in storms and floods
urgently evacuated 3,354 households affected by floods, while 36 residential areas and villages with about 33,800 people were still inundated and isolated by floodwaters. During the flood, the entire political system, along with the relief team and many philanthropists, joined hands and wholeheartedly helped the people of Bac Giang overcome difficulties and stabilize their lives.
Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy, 64 years old, in Le Vien commune, Son Dong district, had her roof blown off by a tornado. She was moved to tears: "When my house's roof was blown off, my neighbors immediately came to take me in. For the past few days, I have been living in the care and protection of kind neighbors and the care of the government. I am very grateful for the kindness shown to me. Without that help, I would not have survived the recent storm alone!".
Mr. Dang Nam, a resident reporter for Ban Duong magazine, promptly established a volunteer group with many journalists in Bac Giang province to mobilize necessities and go to remote areas cut off by storms and floods, bringing gifts to the people. The group gave Ms. Thuy some essential goods and gave her an additional two million VND so that she could have more money to re-roof her house that had been blown away by the storm.
Mr. Nam shared: "We were promptly present in key flood-hit areas of Son Dong, Luc Ngan, and Luc Nam districts. Although the gifts were not of much economic value, they were truly a source of encouragement for people to overcome storms and floods. There, we further appreciated the spirit of love, support, sharing difficulties and helping each other in times of trouble of people in flooded areas".
After many hours of working with the people of Hop Thinh commune, Hiep Hoa district to build a dike to prevent floods, Nguyen Cong Diep (born in 1988), the village leader of Hiep Dong village, Thuong Thang commune, and 30 comrades from the Thuong Thang commune mobile militia platoon reinforced Hop Thinh commune to build a dike to prevent floods.
"Before we could rest, we heard people calling out in panic that someone had been swept away by the flood and needed help. Quickly putting on life jackets, we ran towards the area where the floodwaters were rising to save people," said Diep.
In the dark night in the midst of the rushing water, Diep swam while shining a flashlight, calling out continuously to determine the location of the victim. A moment later, he discovered a child struggling and afraid in the whirlpool. After rescuing the child, he was exhausted, but fortunately his teammates responded promptly and took the child to a safe place to take care of him.
Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Thang Commune, Nguyen Tien Dieu, said: During his work, Mr. Diep has always been a responsible person, completed his work well, and was recognized and commended by the leaders. People in the flooded area are very grateful for his brave spirit of saving people in the flood. He is a shining example of inspiration and enthusiasm for the staff and people in the commune who are making every effort to overcome the storm and flood.
Not long before that, on the night of September 8, in Dai Son Commune, Son Dong District, the commune police force worked all night to help people evacuate people and property from the flooded area. Senior Lieutenant Dinh Van Cuong, Deputy Head of the Commune Police, was knocked down by the strong flood water and broke his collarbone.
Colonel Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director of the Bac Giang Provincial Police, commended and awarded a certificate of merit to Mr. Cuong for his outstanding contributions to storm prevention and control.
The whole night of soaking in flood water to save people was also the time when Mr. Cuong's family's house was submerged by flood water, causing damage to many properties. On the night of September 8, 70 officers and soldiers of Brigade 164 and the Military Command of Luc Nam District coordinated with other forces and people to build dikes overnight to save more than 400 hectares of rice in the two communes of Vu Xa (Luc Nam) and Nghia Hung (Lang Giang) from being flooded.
Accompanying the people to fight the flood, Bac Giang Provincial Youth Union promptly established 210 volunteer youth teams with 4,500 youth union members to participate in flood prevention. The volunteer youth teams, together with functional forces and people, handled mud and soil, cleaned up the environment in flooded areas, restored public works, and repaired houses.
In addition to material support, the youth union members also encouraged the families whose relatives died due to rain, storms, and major property damage, helping them overcome this difficult period.
To help people feel secure in fighting floods and ensuring their lives, the youth volunteer groups arranged human resources and mobilized means to supply food, drinking water, and other essential items; at the same time, assigned forces to coordinate guarding, building dikes, guiding, and supporting people and vehicles to move through deeply flooded areas and areas at risk of landslides, etc.