Flash flood in Nu Village: A father's desperate steps as he searches for his child.

Following the devastating flash flood in Lang Nu village (Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province ) on the morning of September 10th, Hoang Van Thoi (33 years old) lost his mother, wife, and three children. Five days after the flood, the body of Thoi's youngest son, only one year old, has still not been found.

Rain or shine, Hoang Van Thoi continues his search for his son, moving along the waterways near his relatives' house to find any trace of his only son, who is just one year old. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

"Since my mother, wife, and children passed away, I haven't been able to sleep. Every morning I come here to search for the body of my youngest son. He's the only one left, yet to be found," Hoàng Văn Thới said, his voice choked with emotion, as he dug through the rubble searching for his son.

After the devastating flood in Lang Nu village, Hoang Van Thoi lost everything: his mother, wife, and children, as well as his two buffaloes and a small plot of cassava and corn, all swept away by the flood . The longing for his family haunted him, preventing him from returning home, forcing him to stay at his sister's house.

"Now I can't go back home. Seeing family photos, I can't bear it. My biggest dream now is to find the body of my youngest son so he can rest in peace," Thoi said, weeping.

Earlier on September 9th, after days of rain and wind, a landslide occurred on the hill behind Thoi's house. Fearing for the lives of his mother, wife, and children, Thoi's family moved to a relative's house for shelter. Unexpectedly, on the morning of September 10th, a loud explosion occurred, and floodwaters from Con Voi Mountain swept away the relative's house, claiming the lives of 11 people. Thoi was fortunate to escape because he had returned home the previous evening. To date, 10 people have been found, but Thoi's youngest son remains missing.

Every day, rain or shine, Thoi silently returns to the flood-stricken area in Lang Nu village to search for his son, his grief unceasing.

Thoi sat in a daze beside the coffins of his mother, wife, and two children - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Thoi returned home and looked up at the family photos. Now, he had lost everything, from his family to his property. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Thoi opened her daughter's schoolbag and took out each notebook, the only remaining mementos of her eldest daughter - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Whenever he talks about his family, Mr. Thoi chokes up, because the pain of losing loved ones is too great - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

When the sun rose, Mr. Thoi went out to the flood-affected area again to search for his youngest son. That is his biggest dream right now. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The distance from Thoi's house to his relative's house where the disaster occurred is about 1 km. Thoi recounted that immediately after seeing the house where his wife and children were staying collapse, he could only cry out and rush through the landslides to search for his mother and wife and children. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

In just one night, the entire village was wiped out. All the roofs of the houses were flattened and submerged in mud by the flash flood. In the photo, Thoi stands amidst the desolate ruins at the foot of Con Voi mountain. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Thoi used a stick to poke into the mud to search for his child's body. This search area is about 50 meters from his relatives' house. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Beneath the massive pile of mud and debris was once the home of 37 households with over 100 people. In just two minutes, the devastating flash flood and landslide turned an entire village into rubble. Only a few dozen residents of Lang Nu village were fortunate enough to escape because they lived on high hillsides. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The sandals belonging to Thoi's granddaughter were found on the morning of September 12th. He also found the bodies of his two nephews at this location - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Besides Hoang Van Thoi, many other local residents are also searching for the bodies of their missing relatives - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Thoi, along with the military forces, overturned every piece of wood and bamboo to search for his son's whereabouts - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Due to the hot weather, he sat down to rest and chat with relatives of the victims who are still missing - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Over 500 officers and soldiers from various forces were mobilized to search for missing victims in Lang Nu village, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province, across an area spanning 6km. Dozens of bodies were discovered in the first few days. However, in subsequent days, the number of victims found dwindled as many were likely buried deep under the rubble. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Thoi rushed to the scene of the flash flood after hearing that the army had found the body of a victim near where his family had perished. However, when he arrived, it wasn't his son. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Thoi goes through the procedures to receive financial assistance from the local government for families whose members died in the flash floods - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Thoi signed the section acknowledging the support for families who lost loved ones in Phuc Khanh commune. He signed for the loss of four people, while his youngest son remains listed as missing - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

A monk burst into tears when he heard the village chief read out Thoi's name and recount his tragic circumstances - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Since the day his mother, wife, and three children died, Thoi has been unable to sleep, because every time he closes his eyes, he is haunted by the horrific flash flood - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lu-quet-lang-nu-buoc-chan-vo-vong-cha-di-tim-con-20240914214451837.htm#content-20