Waiting for miracles in Lang Nu and Phong Chau

Searching for missing victims under Phong Chau bridge – Photo: CHI TUE

In Lang Nu village, as of the afternoon of September 15, according to data from the Search and Rescue Command Center, the number of deaths due to flash floods and landslides is currently 52, including 1 case of death at the hospital.

Nu Village still has 14 people missing

The number of people still missing was determined to be 14, down from the previous figure.

In recent days, the hot weather in Lang Nu has dried out and gradually compacted the ground, making it even more difficult to find the victim's whereabouts.

The search was also expanded along the downstream area of ​​the stream, stretching for many kilometers. Hundreds of soldiers, police, militia, and people worked together, actively racing against time to find people buried and missing.

The search team turned over each piece of wood and dug through thick layers of mud. Commander of the Military Command of Pho Rang town, Bao Yen district, Tran Van Manh, stated that despite the hardship, the team was determined to find as many missing victims as possible as soon as possible to bring them back to their families.

Meanwhile, relatives of the victims are still constantly on duty at the village cultural house to monitor and support the search. Sharing with Tuoi Tre, Mr. Hoang Van Voi (35 years old) said that in the past few days he has joined in supporting the search for villagers as well as his brother Hoang Van Gioi (39 years old) who is still missing.

According to Mr. Voi, it has been 5 days since the flash flood, and although the authorities have been working very hard and arduously, they are still actively searching. Therefore, he and many other people hope for miracles so that the authorities can soon bring the buried and missing victims back to their loved ones and families.

No victims found in truck in Phong Chau

On September 15, soldiers from the Phu Tho Provincial Military Command, Engineering Brigade 543, and Phu Tho Provincial Police, along with divers, continued to search for people involved in the Phong Chau bridge collapse on September 9.

The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Phu Tho Province Police mobilized 30 more soldiers equipped with specialized diving equipment to approach the scene nearly 100m downstream from the collapsed Phong Chau Bridge - the location where the Phong Chau Bridge span drifted after the collapse and where a tractor trailer was stuck.

Phu Tho Provincial Police said that as of noon on September 15, the authorities had not found the victim in the truck cabin. The authorities are mobilizing all available forces, vehicles, and equipment to deploy a plan to search for the missing victim and salvage the wrecked vehicle.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre on the afternoon of September 15, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tam Nong District (Phu Tho), informed that after the river water receded, rescue forces searched for victims, made plans to salvage the collapsed Phong Chau bridge and install a temporary pontoon bridge to replace it.

Mr. Hung also said that only one victim was found about 10 meters from Phong Chau bridge and has been handed over to his family. Thus, as of the afternoon of September 15, 1 victim of the Phong Chau bridge collapse has been found dead and 3 victims have been rescued.

“Currently, there are still 7 victims being searched for by the joint forces. In addition to searching in the Phong Chau bridge area, the forces are also coordinating with localities downstream to check for cases of victims swept away by floodwaters,” Mr. Hung said.

Regarding the installation of a temporary Phong Chau bridge for people to travel, Mr. Hung informed that the two ferry terminals have been cleared by the military, and landslide areas have been reinforced. It is expected that in the next 1-2 days, when safety conditions are guaranteed, a pontoon bridge will be installed.

Today, Lang Nu students go back to school.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre, Mr. Pham Duc Vinh, principal of Phuc Khanh Primary and Secondary School No. 1 (Bao Yen, Lao Cai ), said that after discussing with parents, the school decided to transfer all students from Lang Nu village to the main school to study. The students were arranged to eat and sleep at school to ensure safety.

“We have cleaned the entire school and set up additional tables in the classrooms to welcome nearly 100 students from families in Lang Nu village, from grades 1 to 9, to come to study and stay at the school and classrooms. On September 16, the school will welcome them back to school,” said Mr. Vinh.

Relief truck to Bat Xat border area

Young people in Hanoi give relief gifts to A Lu people - Photo: VU TUAN

After a week of isolation, A Lu commune, Bat Xat district (Lao Cai) has just received a truck carrying relief goods.

The only route to A Lu commune is from the center of Bat Xat district through Y Ty commune, about 70 kilometers. However, it only reaches the center of the old Ngai Thau commune (which has been merged into A Lu commune). It is still nearly 15 kilometers to the center of A Lu commune.

From Y Ty commune to Ngai Thau, more than 5 kilometers, there are more than a dozen landslides that have only been temporarily repaired. The risk of landslides can occur at any time. On the evening of September 14, there was only phone signal, and the road was cleared at midnight last night. At 6:00 a.m., the first truck carrying 400 gifts crossed the landslide pass to A Lu.

The truck carrying gifts from the Thien Uoc charity group (Hanoi) took two days to travel from Hanoi to here. The gifts included: rice, dried fish, roasted peanuts, cooking oil, fish sauce and some other necessities. Thao A Giay (in Phin Chai village) received the gifts from the young people with trembling hands. A Giay's house was destroyed by landslides, so he has had to stay at the village's cultural house for the past few days.

There are 7 families living in the village's cultural house. During the day, they go to work and collect vegetables to feed their pigs. At night, they sleep in the cultural house to avoid landslides. There is no electricity, no phone signal, and the road is also lost. The rice in the house has sprouted due to the rain and is inedible. The border guards have distributed rice to the people.

Mr. Lu A Sinh, Secretary of the Party Committee of A Lu Commune, said that there are many difficulties in searching, rescuing victims as well as overcoming the consequences of the storm. From eating and drinking to daily activities, the villages currently have almost no clean water.

Lu A Sung (Phin Chai village) said that the people here have never experienced so many landslides. The top of Ngai Thau Thuong mountain occasionally has a thunderous explosion, followed by a rumbling sound, because of falling trees and rolling rocks.

People from Ngai Thau Thuong, Ngai Thau Ha, Phin Chai... went to school early in the morning to receive relief gifts. Everyone enthusiastically helped the volunteer group unload the goods from the truck. Village leaders read the list of each household and stepped forward to receive the gifts. Everyone received gifts to take home, and the family had enough to eat for the next few days.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cho-doi-nhung-phep-mau-o-lang-nu-va-phong-chau-202409160743183.htm