At 4am on September 13, before the sun had risen, in a makeshift hut on the hill, Mrs. Tran Thi Kha (Phuc Khanh village, Vinh Kien commune, Yen Binh, Yen Bai) and her eldest son carried her stroke-stricken husband back to the village.
Mrs. Kha's family is one of 3,186 households evacuated by Yen Bai province after the upstream water level of Thac Ba lake was at a very high level, while also ensuring the safety of people when the hydroelectric plant released floodwaters.
Mrs. Kha recalled that 3 days ago, when she heard the announcement that the lake water level was rising, she and her son hurriedly brought a tarp up to the hill behind the house, cut down a dozen bamboo trees and built a temporary hut to escape the flood.
"My husband had a stroke, it was very difficult to get him up to the hut, by the time we went downstairs to get food it was too late, the family only had time to bring 2 boxes of noodles and 1 battery. Living in the mountains, we only eat noodles and potatoes," said Mrs. Kha.
Helping her husband back to the old bed, Mrs. Kha and her daughter-in-law went out to the garden to prepare for the first lunch after the storm and flood.
Frying each fish, picking each vegetable, Mrs. Kha choked up as she recounted that the night on the hill on September 11 was the longest night of her life. It was pouring rain, and even though they were on high ground, no one in the family could sleep.
"We have to be on duty and worry about the hydropower plant, so that if something bad happens, we can still run away," Ms. Kha shared.
Eating a piece of fried fish that her eldest son had just caught from the Chay River, Mrs. Kha remembered the days of running away from the flood on the hill behind her house.
“The first piece of fried fish after 3 days, I feel sorry for my grandchildren, they have endured hardships at such a young age,” the 70-year-old woman said emotionally.
Mrs. Kha's neighbor, Mrs. Luyen (50 years old), although returned to Phuc Khanh village a day earlier, September 13 was the first day her family had meat and rice on their dinner table.
“The village market has just opened today, but there are very few goods for sale. I had to get up at 5am and wait in line for about 30 minutes to buy the first kilos of meat after the flood,” Ms. Luyen said.
Holding nearly 2kg of meat, Mrs. Luyen said: “Today, I bought more meat than usual because my children and grandchildren have not eaten it for a long time. When I brought the bag of meat home, the grandchildren jumped for joy because today they can “say goodbye” to instant noodles.”
According to Vietnam Electricity Group, the water level of Thac Ba Hydropower Reservoir as of 2:00 p.m. on September 13 was 58.72 m, with the total downstream discharge flow being 2,594 m3/s. Currently, Thac Ba Hydropower has opened 3/3 of the discharge gates as directed.
Previously, on September 10, 2024, the upstream water level of Thac Ba Lake was at a very high level, the flow to the lake exceeded the lake's designed flood discharge capacity.
To ensure the safety of people when Thac Ba Hydropower Plant releases floodwaters, Yen Bai province has evacuated 3,186 households with 11,279 people from 24 villages and hamlets in Vinh Kien, Yen Binh, Han Da, Dai Minh communes, and Thac Ba town (Yen Binh district).
Millions of arms turn to compatriots affected by storms and floods
Storms and floods have caused severe damage in many northern provinces.
"A piece of food when hungry is worth a whole package when full", with the spirit of mutual love that has always been a beautiful image of the Vietnamese people, the Golden Heart Charitable Social Fund calls on philanthropists at home and abroad to join hands to share with people affected by the storm and post-storm circulation.... to soon stabilize their lives.
The Golden Heart Social Charity Fund would like to sincerely thank the precious affection of agencies, businesses, and philanthropists at home and abroad.
Please send all donations to: Tam Long Vang Charity Fund, 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:
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