Huge damage in the lobster capital
Mr. Vo Ngoc Thach - Chairman of Song Cau Ward People's Committee - said that the sudden flood caused 95% of lobster output of people in Xuan Dai Bay to die, nearly 80,000 cages were damaged or drifted.
It is estimated that about 21,000 tons of shrimp died, with total damage reaching more than VND 2,400 billion.
In addition to Song Cau ward, Xuan Dai Bay area has long been known as the lobster capital of the old Phu Yen province (now Dak Lak province).
Mr. Pham Van Nguyen, Chairman of Xuan Dai Ward People's Committee - said that during the recent flood, 430/536 farming households suffered damage, the rate of shrimp deaths was up to 22,500/27,000 cages, equivalent to more than 80%, with an estimated value of VND 610 billion.
This is a terrible damage, unprecedented since the lobster farming profession was formed in Xuan Dai Bay.
Currently, localities are focusing on mobilizing forces to support people to overcome the consequences, collect cages, and treat the environment to avoid disease outbreaks.
At the same time, it recommended urgent policies such as debt forgiveness, debt reduction, consideration of debt cancellation and giving people new loans to restore production.
People face debt and uncertain future
According to Mr. Vo Ngoc Thach - Chairman of Song Cau Ward People's Committee, for households who stick to the sea all year round to make a living, shrimp cages are not only assets but also hope, the future of the family.
After the historic flood, many people could not think about starting to raise their children, when the immediate concern was debt and daily meals.
Throughout Song Cau ward, hundreds of shrimp farming tools from basket boats, cages to nets and ropes are piled up on the road.
Ms. Do Thi Minh Ly (37 years old, Trung Trinh residential area) transported 20 kg of lobsters to sell for 150,000 VND/kg. On the motorbike, the newly boiled lobster bags were still hot and red with bricks.
Ms. Ly said: "Customers are mainly acquaintances and colleagues. They bought it to support the family to reduce the damage. 20 shrimp cages that my wife and I raised in Xuan Dai Bay almost died after storm No. 13 and the recent flood, causing damage of nearly a billion VND. The break-even price cannot be below VND500,000/kg.
Mr. Nguyen Van Anh (47 years old, quarter 1, Song Cau ward) - a person who has been involved in lobster farming for nearly 20 years - stood still for hours next to the remaining raft.
He said: "The flood came in just a few hours, more than 115 cages with nearly 50,000 of the family's lobsters died, unable to react. Twenty years of working, all the capital and loans are there... Now I see the rafts crushed, the shrimp dead are white and the liver is swollen.
According to local people, most households in block 1 live by raising lobsters, but the flood this time was so fast and fierce that the entire cage system collapsed in large numbers, causing almost all of the shrimp to die.
Emergency support and production recovery direction
The authorities of Song Cau and Xuan Dai wards are mobilizing forces, together with local businesses and supporting organizations, to focus on collecting cages, cleaning the environment and implementing disease prevention measures.
Households are instructed on how to preserve cages and prepare lobster farming equipment for the next crop.
Policies for financial support, debt forgiveness, interest reduction, and new lending for reproduction are being recommended at the provincial level.
The goal is to help people soon stabilize their lives, reinvest in lobster farming, and protect the community's long-term livelihood.
Millions of arms turn to compatriots affected by storms and floods
Consecutive storms and floods caused by storms have caused many deaths, missing people, and injuries; many houses and production and business establishments have had their roofs blown off and suffered heavy damage. People across the Central and Northern mountainous provinces are struggling day and night to cope with floods and heavy losses in human lives and property that cannot be mentioned...
"A piece of food when hungry is worth a package when full", with the spirit of mutual love that has always been a beautiful image of the Vietnamese people, the Golden Heart Social Charity Fund calls on domestic and foreign philanthropists to join hands to share with people affected by floods to have food, clothing, shelter, students have books to go to school...
The Golden Heart Social Charity Fund would like to sincerely thank the precious feelings of agencies, businesses, and domestic and foreign philanthropists.
Please send any help to: Golden Heart Social Society Fund, No. 51 Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Phone: 024.39232756. Account number (STK): 113000000758 at Vietinbank Hoan Kiem Branch, Hanoi. STK: 0021000303088 - at Vietcombank - Hanoi Branch, STK: 12410001122556 - at BIDV - Hoan Kiem Branch. Or scan the following QR code:
