Flash floods leave trail of devastation in San Tung

San Tung hamlet (Ta Ngao commune, Sin Ho district, Lai Chau province) was wiped out by landslides caused by flash floods

Nhan Dan reporters Tran Tuan and Thai Thinh arrived on the scene soon after the disaster to document the heavy losses suffered by locals.

Since the early morning, after receiving information from the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Sin Ho district, our team spent more than two hours traveling and walking to get access to San Tung hamlet by noon, where 24 local households were struck by a landslide at 4 am on June 27. When we arrive, in front of us was a desolate ruin. Several battered roofs were scattered, buried under the red mud and rocks.

Amid the cold under the high mountainous rains, many San Tung locals stood still looking towards their hamlet, where their properties are buried beneath the vast landslide debris. Sung A Dua, a local young man, could not hide his fear. Dua said continuous rains stopped local people from going to their fields in recent days so they could only stay at their homes. After a few days, they discovered cracks behind their hamlet. It was raining constantly, so on Tuesday evening they told each other to evacuate the elderly and children to a safe place. Only healthy adults stayed to protect their properties and support each other in case of any problems. Early in the morning of the next day, they heard the terrifying rumble of rocks rolling downhill, they shouted to inform each other and ran for their lives. Thanks to the alert, there were no casualties but the landslide buried most of the village. Other than several buffaloes that some lucky households had moved out earlier, all remaining property was destroyed.

Hang Thi My said: "When the landslide occurred, everyone shouted and ran with fear. When we safely reached higher land, I looked back and could not find where my home was. I lost all my property and grain. My house no longer exists. How can I continue?”

Rescue forces and local authorities have been rapidly deployed to provide support for victims after the heavy floods

Soon after the incident, local rescue forces were dispatched to help San Tung people. In the exhausting grayness of rain and desolation, San Tung received initial support from the local government. Instant noodles, drinking water and other necessities were delivered by the rescue forces to the hamlet. Concerned authorities also provided timely support to each household worth VND3 million for temporary expenses.

Several residents who lost their homes in San Tung have to seek lodgings at their relatives’ houses in other hamlets. Rescuers are urgently setting up shelters to provide the remaining victims with temporary accommodation, while helping them to overcome the consequences of the natural disasters.

Le Thanh Duong, Vice Chairman of the Sin Ho district People's Committee said that in the immediate relief effort the district has directed concerned units to arrive at the sites to help the victims and deliver essential items to locals. Local armed forces have been mobilised to help build temporary shelters. Accounting for the losses is underway. The district will review all possible policies to support the victims. At the same time, local authorities also called for support from donors to share the losses with local people in San Tung. In order to overcome the consequences, after temporary stabilisation activities, the district will consider specific plans to promptly solve the issues, Duong added.

The lunches in San Tung are a mix of instant noodles, field rations and tears. Beneath the thick layers of mud and rock are the livelihoods and treasured property of the local people. The cruelty of nature has laid a heavy burden on the shoulders of locals in the poor hamlet. Now what will their lives be like? Perhaps, it will take a long time for local children here to be able to have fun, for the old to be less worried. After the disaster, how long will it take for a recovery in San Tung?

NDO