24 hours of urgent evacuation to escape floods in the suburbs of Hanoi

During the urgent moment of running away from the flood day and night, people in many villages of Trung Gia commune (Soc Son, Hanoi ) and rescue forces had to face unprecedented situations. Everyone encouraged each other that "lost property can be rebuilt".

In the past 5 days, many villages in Trung Gia commune (Soc Son district, Hanoi) have been seriously flooded due to prolonged heavy rains caused by storm Yagi and the rapid rise in water levels of Cau and Ca Lo rivers, reaching alert level 3. Water levels of Cau and Ca Lo rivers have exceeded historical flood peaks, causing flooding, landslides, threatening the safety of dikes, and posing a risk of insecurity to communes affected by river floods. Hoa Binh and An Lac villages are the two most deeply flooded areas, with many areas 3-4m deep, and fast-flowing water completely isolating houses, making access difficult. Evacuation and relocation of people to safety are being carried out continuously.

"The Command Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue announces the urgent evacuation of people from flooded areas to safe areas. People quickly pack up their belongings and go outside to evacuate," the announcement from Nguyen Van Thinh's portable loudspeaker continuously rang out among the flooded villages. Thinh and Khang used a motorboat to weave through each small alley, occasionally both had to bow their heads to avoid tree branches and clusters of electric wires hanging down close to the water surface. "There is a wall ahead, Khang, be careful of the gate...", Thinh said. Having worked for more than ten years in the commune's militia force, this was the first time the two of them had seen their village flooded.

Hearing the loudspeaker, Ms. Nguyen Thi May and her husband called out for help moving out. Looking down at the water, Ms. May was a bit panicked because she didn't know how to swim. - The water is more than half the stairs, how can I get down? - Go down the stairs, open the door, then hold the buoy tightly with both hands, don't worry. With people asking and encouraging like that, after about 15 minutes, the couple got on the boat safely. For nearly a week, she and her husband have been staying on the second floor of the house, which is somewhat high and safe, to run water up and keep their belongings. During the days without electricity and contact with the outside, she could only hear news and receive supplies from neighbors with small boats going back and forth every day on the increasingly high water level. "Hearing the loudspeaker announcement and fearing the flood discharge, the couple decided to go out to stay safe," Ms. May said. While steering the boat, Mr. Thinh encouraged the woman: "Maybe after this time, we will have to propose opening a swimming class for all the women in the neighborhood."

6 military vehicles and 8 canoes were reinforced to enter the flood center to take people to safety on September 12. According to Lieutenant Colonel Vu Van Hung, Head of Trung Gia Commune Police (Soc Son District), although the floodwaters had been warned in advance about the complicated developments of Typhoon Yagi and the post-storm circulation, the water level rose much faster than the warning. Especially since this is a riverside area, the population is scattered, making the relief work very difficult in the process of approaching and moving people out of the flood area. Canoes and motorboats moved deep into hard-to-reach areas to bring people to where military vehicles were picking them up. Up to now, the floodwaters have been slowing down, and more than 90% of the people have been moved to safety.

As soon as he was evacuated from the flooded area, Mr. Do Van Am (71 years old) was quickly taken by his family in a taxi to the hospital. His family is still in fear after experiencing the recent floods.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh's cows were assisted in evacuation to avoid the flood.

The sky gradually darkened, the surrounding was quiet, only the sound of Mr. Thinh and Mr. Khang's boat engines continued to cut through the water, crossing the darkness to help Mr. Nguyen Van Hung's family (Hoa Binh village) move 3 cows out. Mr. Hung had 2 cows, one of which was about to give birth when the flood entered the house, submerging everything. Mr. Hung only had time to save a few belongings, ran to bring the cow from the barn to the front porch for temporary shelter, the cow's food was also soaked. Every day, he still rowed the boat to check the house and feed the cows. Two days ago, his cow gave birth, the man was both happy and worried, impatient because he had to leave the calf in the flooded area.

This was also the first rescue situation the rescue team had encountered in their lives. The calf was carried onto the boat, while the two large cows had to be tied around their bellies and led by the noses along the boat to be pulled out. In the little light left by the two flashlights, six men struggled to lead the cows out. The mother cow, who had just given birth, was weak and refused to walk. Mr. Hung and his son-in-law had to work together to pull her out while feeling sorry for her. "This flood is the one I'm most worried about," the middle-aged man could not hide his sobs. Sitting on the edge of the boat, looking in the direction of the flashlight, Mr. Khang breathed a sigh of relief that the last rescue boat trip of the day had been completed. "It's truly the first time in my life that I've seen a flood like this and have to pull a cow out," Mr. Khang said, and everyone laughed. It was almost 8 p.m.

The boat moved away, in the village there were a few houses still lit by electric lamps and candles. A few people still clung to their houses, waiting for the next day to continue moving out.

About 3km away is Trung Gia Kindergarten, a place for 220 people from flooded areas to temporarily stay, waiting for the floodwaters to recede before returning home. There are 10 classrooms with blankets and pillows prepared by the school for people to use. People are arranged to stay according to age, gender or groups of families with small children. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy has been taking care of her 28-day-old baby at the evacuation site. In the past few days, Ms. Thuy's whole family has been living on the second floor, having to save clean water and electricity. "My hometown is Lao Cai, the days I heard about the terrible flood, I called my family and felt anxious and worried. I was also stuck in the middle of the sea of water, many nights I lay thinking a lot but couldn't sleep," Ms. Thuy said.

Many elderly people living alone, stuck at home for many days, ran out of food and water and were promptly moved to evacuation sites. Women with gray hair sat and talked about their feelings after days of being cut off by floodwaters. Stories about flooding, running from floods, and worries about the sticky rice fields that had begun to stand, and would be harvested in about a month, but were now completely lost and submerged in water. All the locals said this was the biggest flood they had ever experienced. Everyone asked about each other's health, and finally encouraged each other that "lost property can be rebuilt". Everyone hoped the water would recede and they could return home...