Quang Ngai: Fear of safety on ferry trips across Tra Khuc River

Every day, people in Xa Nay and Cham Rao villages (Son Ha commune, Quang Ngai province) want to go to the commune center or students go to school, they have to cross Tra Khuc river by ferry. Traveling is potentially dangerous, especially during the rainy season.

Clip: People of Xa Nay and Cham Rao villages, Son Ha commune, Quang Ngai province, hope to have a bridge across Tra Khuc river to avoid having to rely on ferries. By: NGUYEN TRANG

Xa Nay and Cham Rao villages have about 2,500 people, mainly H're people, whose lives are still difficult, their livelihoods depend on slash-and-burn farming and livestock raising. To reach the center of Son Ha commune (Quang Ngai province), people in Xa Nay and Cham Rao villages have to overcome many obstacles. If traveling by road, people have to go around more than 30km, the road is steep and has many damaged sections, and the river route is only about 100m but must cross the Tra Khuc river by ferry.

People in Xa Nay and Cham Rao villages (Son Ha commune, Quang Ngai province) travel by boat on Tra Khuc river. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Currently in Son Ha commune there are 2 ferry piers operated by 4 households, using motorboats to transport people and students across Tra Khuc river.

Mr. Dinh Van Hon (Xa Nay village, Son Ha commune) has been a ferryman for more than 10 years. He said: “Each boat crossing the Tra River can only carry a maximum of 4 people. During the rainy season, when the water level rises, the boat must temporarily stop operating, making travel more difficult than ever. The road is also degraded and slippery, sometimes it takes up to an hour to get to the commune center.”

To ensure safety, people on the boat are instructed to wear life jackets. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Despite the dangers, this is the shortest route to the center of Son Ha commune. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Xa Nay village currently has 51 students and 10 teachers who regularly cross the river to go to school. Whenever it rains heavily, the river water rises, the boat must temporarily stop operating, causing the study to be interrupted. The most difficult thing is when someone in the village is sick or giving birth and needs urgent medical attention, shortening the distance to the medical station is extremely necessary.

Mr. Dinh Van Phuoc (Cham Rao village, Son Ha commune) shared: “Commuting here is really difficult. Every day my child has to cross the river by boat to go to school. Every time I see my child getting off the boat, I feel uneasy. I just wish there was a bridge so my child could get to school safely.”

Mr. Nguyen Tung Son, Vice Chairman of Son Ha Commune People's Committee, said: "The locality clearly recognizes the current traffic inadequacies. The commune has proposed to include the construction of a people's bridge in the public investment plan. We hope that the Central Government and the province will pay attention and support."

Mr. Nguyen Tung Son added: “Boat owners do not have the funds to build new boats that meet registration and inspection standards. Building ferry terminals is difficult due to complex terrain, unstable water levels, and potential risks of unsafe waterway traffic. However, this is still the only means of transport for students to go to school, and for people to travel for production and daily activities.

Mr. Nguyen Tung Son, Vice Chairman of Son Ha Commune People's Committee, presented life jackets to boat owners. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

Mr. Nguyen Tung Son said: "To ensure waterway traffic safety, the People's Committee of Son Ha commune regularly directs inspection and supervision of ferry operations, propagates and reminds ferry owners to strictly comply with waterway traffic safety regulations, and not operate during storms and strong winds."

NGUYEN TRANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/quang-ngai-noi-lo-mat-an-toan-tren-nhung-chuyen-do-qua-song-tra-khuc-post818269.html