Journey to flooded areas in Thanh Hoa
7 years ago, in early September 2018, due to the impact of floods, Thanh Hoa province experienced serious landslides. In particular, National Highway 15C - the main road connecting the southern districts with Muong Lat district - was completely cut off, with dozens of large and small landslides.
After receiving the information, as a reporter staying in the area, I immediately packed my luggage to go to Muong Lat. The distance from the center of Thanh Hoa City to Muong Lat is more than 200km long, it took us nearly a day to ride a motorbike to reach the border area between Quan Hoa and Muong Lat districts.
Here, the group was forced to stop because the landslide completely cut off the road to the district center. After discussing, we decided to approach Muong Lat by river. To do so, the group must continue to cross the slippery roads from Trung Ly commune to Muong Ly commune - where the Ma River flows through. Coming to Muong Ly when it was dark, we immediately contacted the people to rent a boat to cross the river. The journey back in the water lasted about an hour.
When we arrived at the head of Muong Lat town, we were somewhat assured because we had overcome the dangerous journey. At that time, the town no longer had the image of a busy street. The district center is in darkness due to a power outage for many days. After finding a place to rest, the group temporarily wrapped the noodles late at night. During nearly a week of working here, I was present at most of the serious landslides, recording the images and stories of the people struggling to cope with the consequences of natural disasters. The most authentic information from the scene has been sent to readers across the board.
A year later, on August 3, 2019, a terrible flash flood in Sa Na village (Na Meo commune, Quan Son district) swept away dozens of houses, leaving many people missing. At that time, it was raining heavily, we rode our motorbikes nearly 200km to the border district of Quan Son. On the morning of August 4, traveling more than 60km from the town to Na Meo commune, the biggest obstacle was the Luong River, which was flowing strongly. Unable to go by river, we decided to cross the forest and had to ask two local people to guide us. After 3 hours of following the buffalo winding, Sa Na village appeared before the eyes - devastated, dilapidated, almost wiped out.
As the first group of reporters to approach the scene, we entered the funeral scene with many missing people still unfounded. After many hours of recording the images and stories, we wade through the stream before dark. The road back was difficult because there were no more tour guides, but with the fastest efforts to convey information to the newspaper, after many hours, we successfully crossed the forest.
Up to now, 6 years have passed, but the desolate images, panicked eyes, and hopeless calls to each other in Sa Na always haunt me every time I remember them.
Work in the midst of the COVID-19 "storm"
As a news reporter, not only natural disasters but also epidemic "storms" are an indispensable front. In 2021 - the time when the COVID-19 epidemic was tense, at this time, we continuously put on tight protective gear, sneaking into epidemic areas to report information.
One day in mid-May 2021, in the scorching heat, my colleagues and I went to Dong Lac commune (Chuong My district, Hanoi) - where two positive cases were recorded after coming to Tan Trieu K Hospital. Here, we had to wear protective gear, gloves, shot-istic shields, and a hood. After many hours of work, leaving Dong Lac, my colleagues and I were all covered in sweat and as if they were gone.
Another time, on the night of May 9, 2021, we went to Kim Son commune (Gia Lam district, Hanoi) - where 4 students tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. After "eating a portion of rice and dust with the police officers at the checkpoint, we followed the Capital Command to spray disinfectants around the commune. After nearly 2 hours of "sinking" under the Chloramine B spraying pipe, we crossed into a roadside cafe, extracted information and sent photos to the newsroom to serve readers.
Coming of age after each storm
During the days of staying in the heart of Muong Lat flood, in the middle of misery in Sa Na or in the middle of the blockade during the COVID-19 pandemic, I understood that each time I worked, I grew up. There is no more valuable lesson than practical experience. There is no greater value than the truth being witnessed, recorded and shared promptly with readers.
In the midst of hardship, my colleagues and I not only reported, but also contributed to spreading the spirit of sharing to places affected by natural disasters and epidemics. We learn to listen, understand and know how to cherish every word in short but humane reports.
In many years as a reporter, sometimes the story is just a machine nghe or information lines, but behind it is a arduous journey of the person leaving and the pain of the person staying behind. And after all, I still believe that it is the times I have gone through the storm that have given me valuable luggage to continue to steadfastly on the path of journalism - full of challenges but also extremely glorious.
