The decisive moment...
In the early morning of August 1, more than 70 households with more than 380 people in Hang Pu Xi village (Ha Dung commune, Dien Bien province) were sleeping. Outside, heavy rain kept falling. Feeling a thing about being unwell because the other side of the village has steep terrain, near streams, very dangerous, Mr. Mua A Thi (26 years old) - Head of Hang Pu Xi village decided to call a number of households to evacuate urgently.
After that, he, the Party Cell Secretary and the local militia urgently ran to the stream bank to instruct the people to evacuate to a safe area. The evacuation was extremely urgent, in just 30 minutes. 94 people of more than 20 households have been evacuated to safe locations.
In the family's traditional wooden house on a high hill, about 1km from the landslide site - where 11 members lived, Head of Mua A Thi village said: "After graduating from high school in 2019, I had to put my dream of studying high on the back of my family because my family's circumstances were very difficult. I am the second child in a family of 8 siblings, the eldest sister is married, so I am like the eldest brother who has to take the responsibility."
In Hang Pu Xi village, there are 72 households, including 45 poor and near-poor households. The people's lives are still full of difficulties and shortages, but everyone lives in harmony and affection.
Becoming a village chief at the age of 23
Because Mo A Thi had finished high school and was agile and lively, when the village chief asked to retire due to his old age, uneducated, and unable to use a computer to work, the entire village unanimously elected him as the village chief when Mo A Thi was only 23 years old.
With an allowance of about 3 million VND per month, the village chief's work is always busy, from resolving land disputes, establishing mediation teams, to managing and protecting forests. In the dry season, he goes to each house to remind people not to burn incense to prevent forest fires.
When asked about her brave actions in the flood, Mua A Thi just modestly said: "I don't dare to claim to be a hero. As the village chief, I am aware of my responsibility to protect the people....
In the following days, Hang Pu Xi village welcomed many delegations from all over the country, organizations, unions and many volunteer groups to bring relief goods to share difficulties with the people. The head of Mua A Thi village was happy because the villagers received attention, but he was still worried because the new school year was approaching and many children in the village still did not have enough clothes and books.
Initial statistics show that the flash flood and landslide in Hang Pu Xi village, Xa Dung commune killed 2 people, buried and completely washed away 17 households by rocks and soil, and severely damaged 5 other households by rocks and soil.
Mr. Thao A Dua - Vice Chairman of Xa Dung Commune People's Council - said: "The head of Mua A Thi village is a person with a high sense of responsibility, always enthusiastic and proactive in the work of the commune and helps the people a lot. The call for people to evacuate clearly demonstrated the leadership and direction role of a village chief".
With courage, responsibility and making timely decisions, on August 4, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a letter of commendation for the brave, decisive, and wise example of saving people in the flash flood of the Head of Mua A Thi village.
The Prime Minister also requested that the Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Bien province and the Minister of Home Affairs urgently study and propose worthy rewards for the Head of Mua A Thi village according to regulations.
Immediately afterwards, Chairman of Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee Le Thanh Do signed a document to the Prime Minister for consideration and proposal to the President to award the First Class Labor Medal to the Head of Mua A Thi Village - who had outstanding achievements, a brave act of saving people and people's property, contributing to building socialism and defending the Fatherland.
