What remains after the devastating flood!

Border guards transport civilians to receive medical treatment (Photo: Yen Khuong Border Guard Station).

On the afternoon of August 27th, at Km105+450 on National Highway 47 in Yen Nhan commune, a massive landslide blocked the vital road, paralyzing traffic and completely isolating nearly 2,500 people from three villages in Yen Nhan and Bat Mot communes.

While the rain continued to pour down outside, at the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police headquarters, an urgent order was issued to rescue the people. A rescue team led by Lieutenant Colonel Tran Thai Quang Hoang, Deputy Director of the Provincial Police, immediately set off.

Over 100 officers and soldiers, carrying backpacks, traversed 10km of slippery forest paths, following the banks of a raging floodwater stream, to transport food supplies including bread, canned meat, sausages, dried rations, and drinking water to the local villagers.

With weary feet and shirts soaked by the jungle rain, the bundles of supplies were passed from hand to hand. Everyone understood that after several days without electricity and communication, and with the local food supplies having been swept away by the flood, the situation was extremely urgent, and they used that as motivation to keep going.

Upon reaching the isolated area, Mr. Quach The Thuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Nhan commune, could not hide his emotion as he spoke to the delegation: "For the past two days, the commune has been completely cut off from communication, and the people have been lacking everything. Seeing the police officers carrying baskets of bread and water across the stream into the village, we were truly overjoyed to the point of tears."

During those days of heavy rain, in the border commune of Yen Khuong, a story unfolded that deeply saddened many who witnessed it. On the night of August 27th, torrential rain and landslides caused the wooden house of Mr. Lo Van Bang and Ms. Ngan Thi Thu in Xang Hang village to completely collapse.

The couple were injured and received first aid from military doctors at the Yen Khuong Border Guard Post and local health officials . However, by the next morning, Ms. Thu's injuries had worsened, requiring immediate transfer to a district-level hospital. Meanwhile, dozens of landslides had appeared on Provincial Road 530, making it impassable for vehicles.

Faced with a critical situation, border guards decided to use hammocks, taking turns carrying Ms. Thu across rough, rocky roads to reach the hospital for emergency treatment.

Major Le Xuan Lam, Deputy Political Officer of Yen Khuong Border Guard Station, recalled: “We had to cling to every tree trunk and embankment to move forward; in some places, the mud was knee-deep, and we kept slipping and falling. But the lives of the people were paramount; we had to get her out in time.”

After enduring hours amidst the landslide-affected mountains, Ms. Thu was taken to Ngoc Lac Regional General Hospital for timely treatment.

Amidst the hardships, the stories from the aftermath of the floods spread a powerful message of unwavering faith in the close bond between the military and the people.

During the response to Typhoon No. 5 on August 26th, border guards and police forces arrived in Ho village to assist households in relocating people and property from areas at high risk of landslides and flash floods. Around 12 PM that day, members of the task force were assisting Mr. Vi Van Su's family in relocating their belongings when suddenly a large mass of earth and rocks on the embankment behind his house collapsed, tearing down Mr. Su's house. The roof and crossbeams fell, injuring Border Guard Lieutenant Colonel Lo Van Hien and Police Lieutenant Le Ngoc Vu of Hien Kiet commune.

Upon hearing the news, the villagers flocked to the health station to visit and thank the soldier for risking his life to keep them safe.

Typhoon No. 5 and the subsequent floods caused severe damage, but Thanh Hoa province proactively responded in a timely manner. Before the typhoon made landfall, the province established eight working groups, led by provincial leaders, to directly inspect and direct operations at the grassroots level. In particular, two working groups were permanently stationed in the key areas of Quan Son and Muong Lat to closely monitor the situation.

In a region frequently subjected to the wrath of nature, the ability to respond to storms and floods has become a reflex, an inherent characteristic of the entire political system.

Following the storm, recovery efforts are still underway. Roads are covered in mud, villages remain isolated, and people are still facing shortages. But above all, what remains is the spirit of humanity and the willingness to share despite the hardships.

Dinh Giang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dong-lai-sau-lu-du-260300.htm