We desperately need a bridge!

The ferry carrying the schoolchildren that capsized on May 23, 2025, is currently located at the Chòm Mốt village ferry terminal in Quý Lương commune.

Located more than 10km from the center of Quy Luong commune, Chom Mot village is like an "island" isolated from the outside world by the Ma River. The village has 135 households with 616 inhabitants, but there are 15 poor households, 21 near-poor households, and 99% of the villagers are Muong ethnic people. This is also one of the most disadvantaged villages in Quy Luong commune. The lives of the villagers depend solely on growing rice, corn, bamboo, and raising poultry.

Due to its remote location, residents of Chòm Mốt village must cross the Mã River by ferry to reach the center of Quý Lương commune. Alternatively, they can travel by road, crossing steep limestone mountains leading to Điền Lư commune and then circling back down, or crossing a dirt road to Cẩm Thạch commune and then circling back up. Both routes are almost impassable during the rainy season due to slippery and muddy conditions. Furthermore, choosing either route to the commune center, a round trip of approximately 40km, takes several hours. Therefore, residents of Chòm Mốt village have traditionally preferred traveling by ferry across the Mã River. Most concerning is the situation of the students, who must cross the river daily to get to school. Taking the longer route would significantly increase their travel time. Especially during the rainy season and floods, schooling becomes extremely difficult for the children, sometimes forcing them to miss school for an entire week due to severe flooding. For example, when someone in the village falls ill, gives birth, or needs urgent medical attention, shortening the distance to the health station is always a question that needs to be addressed. Besides difficulties in daily life, villagers also face many challenges in production, trade, and buying and selling goods due to high transportation costs.

We decided to board a boat belonging to a local fish farmer and cross the Ma River to Chom Mot village. Leading us to see the two boats lying on the riverbank, Mr. Do Van Hoan, the village Party secretary, shared: "To help people have a safe means of crossing the river, in 2000, the Red Cross of the four provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thai Binh, and Ninh Binh (formerly) donated two boats to Chom Mot village. However, each boat could only carry 3-4 people. After the Ba Thuoc Hydropower Plant came into operation, the Ma River's water level rose, and these small boats were unsafe and have been sitting at the dock for many years. In early 2024, after many requests, the province granted the commune a new iron-built boat that can carry about 10 people and 1-2 motorbikes. The boat is a means of connecting the people of Chom Mot village with the outside world. It also represents the villagers' hope for trade and for students to get to school on time."

After more than a year of operation, a serious incident occurred on May 23, 2025, when the ferry, carrying 10 students across the Ma River to school, lost balance and capsized near the shore. The students fell into the water, but fortunately, the accident happened near the shore, so there were no casualties. Immediately afterward, the residents of Chom Mot village were once again isolated because the only ferry operator in the village, with over 20 years of experience, resigned.

It is known that for many years, during meetings with voters and representatives of the National Assembly and Provincial People's Council, the local government and people of Chom Mot village have repeatedly requested that all levels and sectors pay attention to investing in the construction of a bridge across the Ma River to facilitate trade, develop the local economy , so that poverty would no longer plague them and children's education would no longer depend on ferry crossings. However, to this day, the dream of a bridge across the Ma River remains just a hope for the people of Chom Mot village...

Text and photos: Tien Dong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/can-lam-mot-cay-cau-258974.htm