Memories of the terrible flood
Nearly 5 years ago, in the early morning of August 3, 2019, a terrible flash flood suddenly hit Sa Na village (Na Meo commune, Quan Son district, Thanh Hoa province), leaving many people in the village unable to react. As a result, dozens of houses and 15 people in the village were swept away. The flash flood "turned" a peaceful village for generations into a "dead land".
As a reporter for Lao Dong Newspaper residing in Thanh Hoa province, after receiving the above information, the first thing I did was update information about the incident and send it to the editorial office for publication. Next, quickly pack up your clothes, equipment and machinery ready to go.
I still remember, the weather that day was pouring rain, and a few colleagues and I had to ride motorbikes nearly 200km from Thanh Hoa City to the border district town of Quan Son. When we arrived, it was starting to get dark, our group decided to rent a motel to stay temporarily before heading to Na Meo commune (about 60km from Quan Son town). At dawn on August 4, 2019, our group of reporters, two people on a motorbike, headed straight into Na Meo commune, a place engulfed in pain and loss.
Early in Na Meo commune, the roads were so slippery that our car could not "obey orders" and repeatedly slipped and fell. After a long journey, our first destination was Bo Hieng village (bordering Sa Na village). Here, the ferocious, rushing Luong River stopped our steps.
After asking the local people, it became clear that the only way to get to Sa Na village at this time was to go around the forest road, but the distance was dozens of kilometers long and had to climb passes and wade through streams. Determined to reach the village at all costs, we were helped by two local people to lead us into the village via the forest road. The road leading to Sa Na village follows slippery, buffalo trails. From time to time, there was a "whoosh" sound when someone in the group fell, covered in mud.
I still remember clearly, after about 3 hours, with 4 stops to rest. Sa Na village appeared before our eyes. In the distance, in front of the green fields, is a village that was almost wiped out and devastated. Approaching Sa Na village, the first sound we heard was the screams of many people who were absent-mindedly waiting for news of their loved ones being swept away by the flood. Meeting our group, one of the first strangers to approach the village, they looked as if asking for help.
The space around the village at this time is a pile of ruins accompanied by crying sounds throughout the village. After about 2 hours of recording, we waded across the stream to get back out before dark. The way back out was a bit more difficult, because there was no longer a guide and my strength was gradually depleted. After 4 hours of trekking through the forest, we returned to the starting point and quickly found a place with electricity. In a small roadside restaurant, while sipping a bowl of noodles, he sent news articles and photos to the editorial office to publish the first news and scenes in Sa Na village.
Until now (nearly 5 years have passed) the emotional wounds of Sa Na people have gradually subsided, Sa Na village has moved to another location and has a more stable and safer life. However, every time I remember the time I worked in the Sa Na flood zone, I still cannot forget the absent-minded eyes of Mr. Ha Van Van - the person who lost 6 relatives at the same time (including his parents, sister, wife and 2 children). child), the situation at that time was so painful and difficult to describe in words.
Going through a stormy day
It can be said that 2019 and 2020 were years of intense floods and natural disasters . After the 2019 Sa Na flood (in Thanh Hoa) passed, in October 2020, storms continued to hit along the strip. In the Central region, in less than 1 month, the Central provinces have suffered a total of 3 natural disasters, making Vietnam's "guts" "aching". During that nearly 1 month, I was assigned by the editor, North Central Office, to go to provinces from Thua Thien - Hue, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh and Nghe An to report on floods.
On my first trip, I went to the flood zone of Quang Binh and the house of Major General Nguyen Van Man (who died while going through the jungle to save workers buried in Rao Trang). Here, I understand more about the people's feelings towards a general who "forgets himself for the country and serves the people". When mentioning Major General Man, many people in their neighborhood burst into tears. They cried for a person who forgot himself for the people. Moreover, they cried because of "neighborhood love". When they learned that Major General Man was in trouble, the people in the street did not tell anyone, they gathered at the house to ask, encourage and help the family clean up.
After that trip, I returned to Thanh Hoa to continue performing my duties, but in just a few days, storm No. 8 approached the Central Coast, with pouring rain in the North Central region. At this time, I only had time to dry a few clothes and prepare a few supplies before "receiving marching orders" for the second trip.
Moving from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh, when we reached the gateway of Ha Tinh city, in front of us was the scene, the houses were flooded with white, the roads were in the vast sea of water. For nearly a week of "living and sleeping" with the floods, accompanying people here, after the water receded and the roads were dry, I returned to my permanent residence (Thanh Hoa).
Just like the second trip, after returning to my permanent residence for a few days, I continued my third "solo trip", the bus trip took me from Thanh Hoa to Phu Loc district (Thua Thien-Hue). to catch storm number 9.
The stop for the night was a motel in the small town of Phu Loc. The first place I went to was Tam Giang Lagoon (the bay area located on the side of Phu Loc town, Phu Loc district). Here, the rains are incessant, flooding surrounds hundreds of houses. Then, like previous trips, I continued to accompany and continue to experience hardships with the people here until the rain stopped and the storm passed.
After many years as a reporter for Lao Dong Newspaper, I was fortunate to be able to travel to many provinces and localities and participate in reporting on many events and areas of life. For that reason, it helps you improve your knowledge, experience and become more mature.
In particular, through the times of "plunging into" storms and floods, rushing to epidemic sites, I was able to understand and feel pain with the difficult situations and fate of people, and then have more in-depth and honest articles about aspects of life, thereby providing the most accurate and complete information to readers.
