For the past 5 days, Mr. Nguyen Duy Tien (Na Ri) has been on duty at the edge of the sinkhole in the middle of the median strip of National Highway 3B, passing through Kim Lu commune (Na Ri, Bac Kan).
This area is where Mr. Nguyen Duy Ph's younger brother (born in 1989) had an accident on the night of May 26 when he drove a motorbike into a deep hole and went missing.
Upon receiving the bad news, Mr. Tien immediately returned from Thai Nguyen that night. Since then, he has not left the scene for even a day.
Sitting quietly on the edge of the hole with a treacherous face, low-lying eyes after many nights of sleeplessness, just quietly watching the rescue forces stretching ropes, dropping equipment into the hole to search.
"I have been eating and sleeping right next to the hole for the past few days, sometimes I just fell asleep or every time I saw someone crawling up, I woke up. I wonder what the rescue team discovered, but when they arrived, they were disappointed and disappointed," said Mr. Tien.
Mr. Tien shared that his younger brother is the youngest child in a family of three brothers, living with his elderly parents and working as a freelancer.
For many years, that young man has been the main support in the family, living a reserved life, not communicating much but always enthusiastically helping neighbors when needed.
"The whole family now only depends on the search. As long as I see you, no matter what, my family will be less tormented, said Mr. Tien, his eyes wont leave the hole.
Not only Mr. Tien, but also some close relatives and friends of the victim were present, taking turns waiting in anxiety, just hoping to find the missing person soon.
Mr. Tran Van Duy, the victim's close childhood friend, was also present quietly from the first day.
"When I heard the news, I immediately rode my motorbike more than 40km to the scene and stayed with my family. The two grew up together, attended the same school, and lived in the same neighborhood.
Now, old photos like in the morning, they come to remove the corrugated iron roofs of neighbor's houses, or the times of helping, there is not a single complaint left in my memory," said Mr. Duy.
On May 31, Lao Dong Newspaper's reporter noted that in the sinkhole area, the stagnant water increased to a higher level than the previous day, making the search for missing people even more difficult.
The scene was still blocked off, ropes were stretched, warning signs were placed, the rescue team set up battle tents, took turns on duty to work, and searched for missing people all night.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Truong Quang Trong - Chairman of Kim Lu Commune People's Committee (Na Ri) said that the search is facing many difficulties due to complex geological structures.
The sinkhole is related to the underground cave system, many layers of limestone and strong water, posing a potential risk of landslides at any time.
The search area has been expanded, mobilizing more specialized equipment and increasing forces.
