Houses in disarray after tornado, Quang Ngai residents tearfully say: 'If it weren't for you guys...'

On the morning of November 7, when the sun had just risen after storm Kalmaegi (storm number 13), Long Phung commune ( Quang Ngai ) was still littered with bricks and tiles from last night's tornado.

In that scene, soldiers, police, and youth union members quietly built each roof, picked up each tile, and helped people stand up after the stormy night.

"The sound of falling tiles was deafening!"

In Thanh Long village, Long Phung commune, Mrs. Le Thi Tan (92 years old) has not yet recovered. She said that the tornado hit at about 6:20 pm on November 6, when she was alone in her house. "I was shocked to hear the sound of falling tiles. I thought the whole roof was collapsing," she said with a trembling voice, her thin hands pointing to the roof that was being re-roofed this morning.

Quang Ngai Provincial Police re-roof houses for people in Long Phung commune

PHOTO: HAI PHONG

Soldiers of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command brought each tile to re-roof houses for people after the storm.

PHOTO: HAI PHONG

One eye was dim, the other could only see up close. Mrs. Tan lived alone because her children and grandchildren worked far away in the Central Highlands and Ho Chi Minh City. "I could only sit huddled, listening to the howling wind and falling tiles. At that time, I didn't know what to do but pray for peace," she said, her eyes filled with tears.

This morning, amidst the mess of broken tiles and fallen trees, officers and soldiers of Quang Ngai Provincial Police, along with union members and youth, urgently re-roofed Mrs. Tan's house.

Mr. Le Tuan Tu (66 years old) and Mrs. Le Thi Kim Cuc (59 years old), Mrs. Tan's neighbors, are also still in shock.

"We heard that the storm would come late at night, but unexpectedly, at just after 6 pm, we saw strong winds and falling tiles. My husband and I left our meal and ran out to a neighbor's house for shelter," said Mrs. Cuc.

When the tornado passed, I returned to find the house empty. "Luckily the commune police arrived early and helped me rebuild. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known where to start looking at that scene...", Mr. Tu said emotionally.

According to initial statistics from Long Phung commune, storm Kalmaegi and the accompanying tornado have caused 45 houses to have their roofs blown off and severely damaged. Large waves combined with high tides have also caused landslides along more than 230 meters of coastal road.

Blue shirts amidst chaos after tornado and storm in Quang Ngai

On the morning of November 7, after the storm had passed, convoys of vehicles bearing the insignia of the police, army, and Youth Union entered Long Phung one after another. Throughout the small alleys, the sound of hammers and nails mixed with the voices of people asking questions and encouraging.

Youth Union members join the police and army to repair houses for people in Long Phung commune.

PHOTO: PA

In residential area 13, My Khanh village, the roofs of three houses of Dang Thu (76 years old), Dang Chung (45 years old) and Dang Xuan Phuong (48 years old) were completely blown off. From early morning, dozens of soldiers and members of the Youth Union divided into groups, some to tie up the wooden frames, others to clean up the furniture.

"We quickly finished repairing these three houses and then moved on to other areas. In the neighboring hamlets, forces have spread out to support the people," said a military officer.

Colonel Trinh Cong Son, Deputy Political Commissar of the Quang Ngai Provincial Military Command , arrived at the scene early. He said that immediately after the storm subsided, he mobilized forces stationed in the area to help the people.

A roof that has been almost finished

PHOTO: HP

From November 7 to 11, the Provincial Military Command and its subordinate units will maintain their troops in Long Phung, supporting people to rebuild their houses, clean up roads, repair schools and medical stations. "Once we finish building houses for people, we will prepare to respond to storm No. 14. We will only return after helping people," Colonel Son said firmly.

'If it weren't for you guys, I don't know when it would have been done'

Besides the army, about 50 officers and soldiers of Quang Ngai Provincial Police were also present from dawn. They divided into small groups: some climbed onto the corrugated iron roof, some fixed the power lines, some cleared fallen trees blocking the path.

"If the police, army, and youth hadn't come to help, we wouldn't know when we would have been able to repair our houses and roads," said Le Thi Kim Cuc, watching the group of soldiers rebuilding the roofs of houses for people in her neighborhood.

Mrs. Le Thi Tan kept holding the hand of a police officer, urging her nephew in the neighborhood to go buy some mid-morning food for the "police children". A police officer grabbed Mrs. Tan's hand and said: "No one will eat!"

"If it weren't for you guys, if it rained again tonight, I wouldn't know what to do," said Mrs. Tan.

Long Phung commune coastal concrete road after the storm

PHOTO: H.PHONG

Damaged scene of Long Phung commune coastal road

PHOTO: PA

The dirt road leading into the village was still in disarray after the storm. Among the muddy soil were the green shirts of the union members, soldiers, and police. They were working quietly, removing the roof tiles, supporting each wall panel, carrying each table and chair set…

By noon on November 7, many of the 45 houses with blown-off roofs in Long Phung had been re-roofed. The new corrugated iron roofs sparkled in the sunlight, blending with the grateful smiles of the residents.

Amidst the chaotic scene after the storm, the presence of Quang Ngai armed forces and the youth group "going first and returning later" brought great comfort to the people of Long Phung commune.