There is a strong Cao Bang at the headland of the Fatherland - Part 1: The people's support in the midst of the Ca Thanh landslide area

In September 2024, due to the impact of storm Yagi, heavy rains and floods caused serious landslides in Ca Thanh commune (Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province), burying roofs, sweeping away the peaceful lives of dozens of households and pushing them to the brink of life and death. But from the ruins and devastation, cadres and party members still rushed into the flood, turning themselves into a fulcrum to help the villagers regain their lives and sow seeds of hope.

In the border area of ​​Cao Bang , there are young people who are developing their homeland in their own way; there are literacy classes that are still lit every night; there are cadres and party members who still rush into the flood, turning themselves into a support to help the villagers regain life and sow seeds of hope... All of these beautiful things have contributed to creating a strong Cao Bang at the headland of the Fatherland.
Vietnam Law Newspaper respectfully introduces the series of articles " There is a strong Cao Bang at the headland of the Fatherland"

Night of terror in the memory of the village keeper

In the memory of Mr. Hoang Ton Sao, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Thanh commune in 2024, the fateful night of September 9 was like a cut that never healed. After many days of mobilizing people to evacuate due to prolonged rain and high risk of landslides, he had just fallen asleep when a shrill call on the phone tore through the night: "Chairman, all the people are dead!".

The death announcement was like a thunderbolt. Mr. Sao rushed out, the only road into the commune was blocked by rocks and soil. His heart was burning, his tears mixed with the cold rain, the chairman ran to find a way to get to the people, trying to keep in touch through the unstable phone signal, giving urgent instructions: "Comrades stay, immediately approach the landslide areas to rescue people, I will go in by any means".

Landslide from the mountainside in Ca Thanh commune

At the same time, in places like Lung Ly hamlet, which was completely isolated, pain fell on every family. Hoang Van Vang, a lucky survivor, recounted in shock: "At about 5 a.m., before I could wake up, the disaster struck." A giant stream of earth and rock completely buried his house, taking away his beloved wife. In a split second, Vang's mother only had time to hug her little grandchild tightly, fighting for her life from the hands of death, only for a large tree trunk to fall down and break her ribs.

Not far away, Trieu Trieu Kinh was also stunned by the sight of his house being swallowed by another landslide. "My wife is dead, my father has a broken spine," Kinh choked.

Darkness and grief covered the entire Ca Thanh commune. Before the anger of nature, humans became so small and helpless.

The house was almost completely damaged by a landslide after the storm and flood.

According to the report of the People's Committee of Nguyen Binh district and the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of Cao Bang province, the flood and landslides in September 2024 caused particularly serious consequences in the whole province, in which Ca Thanh commune was one of the most severely damaged places.

Throughout Cao Bang province, floods and landslides have caused 55 deaths, 19 injuries, 2 missing; 2,239 houses damaged; more than 2,076 hectares of rice and crops flooded; 28.95 hectares of perennial crops (cinnamon, anise, acacia, bamboo...) collapsed and broken; 18.37 hectares of fish farming area; 1.75 hectares of rice field fish farming area; 23 cages and rafts for raising various types of fish were washed away and damaged; thousands of livestock and poultry were killed or swept away; many residential areas were cut off and isolated; many key traffic routes, schools, medical stations, irrigation works, electricity and water systems, communication systems,... were severely damaged.

Many residential areas such as Lung Ly hamlet in Ca Thanh commune were completely isolated. Dozens of households had to be evacuated urgently at night. Hamlet headquarters, schools and the electricity system were swept away and severely damaged. The whole commune was submerged in mud and devastation, completely out of contact for nearly 48 hours after the disaster.

“We were cut off from the world . There was no electricity, no phone signal, no one knew if we were alive or not. When the first flashlight beam from the rescue team pierced the darkness, the whole village burst into tears,” Mr. Hoang Van Me, Head of Lung Ly village, choked up as he recounted.

The inter-commune road was almost blocked.

That very night, more than 200 police, army and militia officers and soldiers were urgently mobilized. In the cold and mud, they took turns clearing roads, searching for missing people and rescuing isolated households. Some people soaked themselves in floodwaters for hours just to deliver packages of noodles and bottles of water to stranded people.

After the flood, Ca Thanh was left with only devastation, destruction, and bleeding wounds; roofs tilted, terraced fields turned into mud puddles. The scene of devastation was heartbreaking.

Orders from the heart of a cadre

But in that seemingly most desperate moment; the Party committees and authorities issued urgent instructions to save the people. The entire political system at the grassroots level was activated at the highest level. The order was transmitted by the heartbeat of the cadres and party members: All on the road, at all costs must reach the people.

Rescue forces and people quickly overcome the serious landslide

The local authorities and commune officials quickly rescued the households. With a brave spirit, the soldiers turned themselves into living landmarks in the midst of the rushing water, using their bare shoulders as a support to clear a path through the landslides. On their shoulders, they carried hoes, shovels, dry food, and the faith and lives of many people. "It was still raining heavily, the road was completely blocked, but the officers were the first to find their way to the site," Mr. Vang emotionally recalled.

The race against time did not only take place in the first few hours. In the following days, under the direction of the Party committees and authorities, the entire political system at the grassroots level truly became "fortresses".

The fortresses were not built of bricks and stones, but were built from the iron will of party members and the faith of the people. Each cadre and each party member was a red brick that built the citadel of life. They carried each bag of rice, helped each old person, and carried each child. They used their strong hands when performing their duties and their warm hearts when comforting the people, warming up the entire cold border region.

The storm dissipated, leaving Ca Thanh with deep wounds but could not extinguish the will of the people here.

The disaster passed, Ca Thanh stood up

Under the leadership of the Commune Party Committee and the joint efforts of authorities at all levels, a strong revival has begun. Party members took the lead, people encouraged each other, joined hands to clean up mud and rebuild temporary camps. The spirit of "the strong help the weak" spread everywhere. Mr. Vang and many other households who lost their homes were moved to a new resettlement area in Lung Ly hamlet. Spacious, solid houses built by the State and benefactors gradually stood firm.

"Up to now, my family has been supported with housing and necessary household items to start life again," Mr. Vang shared, his eyes shining with hope.

People join hands with local authorities to rebuild their lives after the historic landslide.

After the disaster, Ca Thanh has been standing up, not only with strength and sweat but also with unwavering faith. That faith was nurtured by the selfless actions of cadres and party members. They have proven that the most solid "fortress" is the people's hearts, and when the people's hearts completely trust the Party, no force can overthrow it.

The torch that lights the way for that reconstruction is the will and leadership of the Party. From the Commune Party Committee, the command of the heart and responsibility has turned into action, mobilizing the total strength of the whole society. Party members, in the role of vanguard, have become red seeds, sowing seeds of hope and life on a new battle - a front without gunfire, stabilizing people's lives and restoring the economy.

The results have come. The new houses in Lung Ly resettlement area are not only a place to shelter from the rain and sun, but also a home that represents the Party’s will and the people’s heart.

Mr. Vang's eyes lit up with confidence when standing in front of his new house is the most profound answer. It shows that storms can sweep away property, but cannot erase the people's steadfast trust in the Party and the State. That trust, that flesh-and-blood bond is an impregnable fortress, the most valuable social capital, the solid foundation for Ca Thanh and this whole highland region to confidently continue writing new pages of history, firmly stepping into the future under the glorious Party flag.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/co-mot-cao-bang-vung-manh-noi-dia-dau-to-quoc-bai-1-diem-tua-long-dan-giua-vung-sat-lo-ca-thanh.html