From July 22 to 25, due to the influence of storm No. 3, Lam and Nam Non rivers rose, causing serious flooding and landslides on Provincial Road 543B, completely isolating Luong Minh commune (Nghe An province).
By the morning of July 26, the road to the commune center was reopened, and the power grid and phone signal were reconnected. However, the 4 villages on the other side of the river, including: Dau, Minh Thanh, Chom Puong and Minh Tien, are still isolated because the Xop Mat suspension bridge was completely swept away by floodwaters.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa - Chairman of the People's Committee of Luong Minh commune - said: "We have been impatient for many days, trying every way to contact and approach but are all helpless. The river water is still big, flowing rapidly, taking a boat at that time is no different from betting for your life".
Determined not to let people in the villages go hungry or cold, the commune government has established a river crossing team to provide emergency supplies. The two boats are mobilized and fully equipped with life jackets, the boat drivers are experienced. Hundreds of gifts including rice, instant noodles, salt, drinking water, and milk were brought to the other side of the river.
When the boat arrived at the temporary wharf, dozens of people were waiting to help bring necessities to shore. "The entire Dau village has 87 households with 409 people, isolated for many days, all food sources are exhausted, electricity is gone, waves are gone. Now that the commune cadres have crossed the river to provide goods, everyone is happy, said Mr. Lo Van Du - Head of Doa village, emotionally.
Captain Lo Hoai Anh - Deputy Head of Luong Minh Commune Police - shared: "If you take a detour from Chieu Luu Commune, it will take more than 70km and the road will be seriously eroded. We have tried for the past 5 days but only today have we reached out to the people".
As of July 29, floods have completely damaged 20 houses in Luong Minh commune, nearly 100 houses were affected, 29 fish cages were swept away, and more than 2,500 poultry were damaged, with total initial damage estimated at about 3.35 billion VND.
Currently, the commune government hopes to receive emergency support from superiors for additional necessities and arrange temporary ferries to ensure people's travel.
"We are especially concerned that the new school year is approaching and the only suspension bridge has been washed away, not knowing how the students will go to school. Hopefully, superiors will pay attention to supporting the construction of a new hard bridge to make people travel more safely during the flood season" - Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa - Chairman of the People's Committee of Luong Minh commune said.
