The school bought 1,300 meals for students staying behind due to floods.

The principal of Hong Bang Secondary School has prepared 1,300 meals so that students do not have to go home at noon in the rain, floods, and chaotic traffic.

Four hours of heavy rain, combined with high tides on the morning of October 14, caused many streets in Hai Phong City to be flooded by 0.3-0.5 meters. Hong Bang Secondary School (Hong Bang Ward) is located in the most heavily flooded area, with the schoolyard submerged in water.

Học sinh THCS Hồng Bàng ăn trưa tại trường trong ngày mưa lụt, sáng 14/10. Ảnh: Xuân Hoa

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Hong Bang Secondary School students have lunch at school on a rainy and flooded day, the morning of October 14. Photo: Xuan Hoa

Mr. Trinh Doan Toan, the school's principal, said that as soon as the complicated weather and traffic conditions were noticed, the school board held a meeting and decided to ensure the safety of the students. "Letting the students go home by themselves in this situation is very dangerous. Keeping them at school is the best option," Mr. Toan said.

The biggest challenge was preparing lunch for a large number of students in a short time, when going to buy food was almost impossible. The school contacted a supplier and ordered 1,300 meals including bread, sticky rice, ham and milk, enough to serve the 1,200 students at school with their teachers. "Luckily they provided enough," said Mr. Toan.

After the school announced, 900 students registered to stay.

1.300 suất ăn được nhà trường huy động chuẩn bị để học sinh không phải về trong khi mưa lụt. Ảnh: Xuân Hoa

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The school mobilized 1,300 meals to prepare so that students would not have to go home during the flood. Photo: Xuan Hoa

Mr. Do Bac Hai, 36 years old, in Gia Vien ward, parent of a student at Hong Bang school, said that this morning he was very anxiously monitoring the flood situation to find a way to pick up his son.

Not knowing when the rain would stop and the water would recede, Mr. Hai received a message from the school about registering students for the morning shift to stay and the afternoon shift to be off. "The school also prepared free meals for the children. The teacher will manage the class until the water recedes, so parents can come pick them up. Many people breathed a sigh of relief," Mr. Hai said.

The image and story of Hong Bang Secondary School's quick response to the situation quickly spread on social networks, receiving thousands of likes and hundreds of complimentary comments.

Ms. Nguyen Hong Nhung commented on the social networking site "Hai Phong": "The school responded very quickly and thoughtfully. Parents were worried about how to pick up their children during the flood and traffic jam, but receiving a message was more precious than gold."

Nguyen Nguyet account said that "schools should refer to the actions of Hong Bang school, especially when the weather is becoming more and more complicated."