The fastest minute is the time for the people
On the morning of September 10, 2024, people in Bao Yen district breathed a sigh of relief as the water of Chay river was receding rapidly, many households after the days of taking refuge returned to clean their houses, households took advantage of the receding water to push mud and soil out. The sky was glowing with sunlight after many days of heavy rain when suddenly covered in a gloomy color when the bad news was conveyed from the southern area of the district.
At the foot of Con Voi Mountain - home to 35 Tay and Dao ethnic groups, the landslides were completely buried by flash floods and landslides, with only a few survivors. The first victims were taken to the District General Hospital for emergency treatment by local residents.
After receiving the news, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters and colleagues traveled more than 20 kilometers from Pho Rang town to Lang Nu village, Phuc Khanh commune. Along the way, there are landslides that cover National Highway 70 with mud and dirt. The Red-rolling Chay River with a flow rate of thousands of cubic meters of water per second is waiting to sweep everything downstream.
Seeing the landslide situation getting more and more serious, not far away from the resounding sound of rocks and soil exploding, a leader of Bao Yen district reminded everyone in the group to separate, if only... there were people staying to report the news.
When we arrived at the head of Lang Nu village, we encountered bewildered faces, red eyes, watching the water and mud in helplessness.
One day after the flash flood disaster in Lang Nu, nearly 800 people including military forces, police, militia and local people were present at the scene, racing against time, actively searching for missing victims and saving compatriots.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Ba, Commander of the 98th Regiment, quickly spoke to reporters: "Receiving the order, we immediately marched quickly at night, from Doan Hung - Phu Tho to Lang Nu, bringing many supplies, search tools, medicine, military equipment, dry food... It was raining, the road was narrow, the slope was winding, muddy, but everyone was eager to get there as quickly as possible to save our compatriots, just in time for the people".
At 5:30 p.m. on September 11, according to the report from the Forward Command, 34 people were found and 61 people are still missing.
On September 12, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directly visited the scene of Lang Nu village, encouraged officers and soldiers performing their duties and the people there.
Witnessing the devastation, the head of the Government could not hold back his tears. In a quick meeting with provincial leaders, the Prime Minister decided to immediately provide 150 billion VND to support Lao Cai. "If there is any shortage or need for the province to promptly report to the Prime Minister to find solutions to overcome and support the resolution," said the Prime Minister. Ministries, departments and branches coordinate with local authorities to organize relief, provide the best necessities and medical care for survivors.
From information and images in the flood center, people across the country have organized meaningful activities such as donating money, goods, clothes, food, and provisions to "support" the people of Lang Nu.
Every time the reporter reported that there would be more volunteer groups bringing necessities to the people, Mr. Hoang Van Diep, Head of Lang Nu village, was moved. He carefully showed us the list of victims whose identities have been determined, the extent of damage to each household and the lucky survivors who returned.
After a short time, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lao Cai province has received help from more than 7,000 agencies, organizations, and philanthropists (total donation of more than 722 billion VND). Of which, the Tam Long Viet Fund of Vietnam Television has fully financed the Nu Village Resettlement Project.
Reviving Lang Nu
Returning to Lang Nu, in the middle of the pristine Northwest mountains and forests, a spacious resettlement area with 40 new stilt houses built on the old sim hill has appeared.
Colonel Nguyen Quang Huy, Deputy Chief of Political Affairs of the 12th Corps - the unit constructing the new Nu Village, emotionally told us about the 68 days and nights "3 shifts and 4 teams" right after receiving the Prime Minister's order to finish the project before December 31, 2024.
Starting construction on September 21, 2024, hundreds of officers, soldiers and a series of construction machinery were mobilized to the large construction site regardless of the weather. When it is hot and humid, when it rains heavily, the road from Pho Rang town to Lang Nu is up to 20km long, lurking to landslides due to the harsh terrain and weak structure. Vehicles and people line up as if going to the front line. The bravery and courage of the soldiers who opened the Truong Son route and transported them in the past are still intact. No one knows how tired they are, all for the people.
The Nu Village people cooked water for the soldiers, cleared the land and cleared the bricks. The days of sweating are also filled with the love of the army and people like in the war years. At the end of the "campaign", next to the pile of cinnamon firewood burning in the middle of the new Tay village, the people of Lang Nu cried and held hands with each soldier. The Lang Nu resettlement area was inaugurated on December 22 - on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army. Amid the pain and loss, humanity and the cooperation of the whole nation have written a story of hope and rebirth.
Recently, Reporter Cao Van Tuan - Northwest News Agency, Lao Dong Newspaper was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee for his outstanding achievements in information, propaganda and search, rescue and overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3.
