Floodwaters recede in Bac Ninh, teachers salvage some school supplies sunk in mud

After the historic flood in Bac Ninh, many schools were submerged, some of them suffered billions of dong in damage. Despite the support of the police, the army, and parents, many school supplies and equipment could not "escape the flood" in time and were damaged beyond repair.

Ms. Ninh Thi Thuy Tuong - Principal of Tan Thanh Kindergarten - checks the flooding situation in the school - Photo: HA QUAN

On the afternoon of October 12, five days after the flood, the yard of Tan Thanh Kindergarten (My Thai commune, Bac Ninh ) was still covered with mud and murky water, the walls were stained with water stains... This is a school in a low-lying area, surrounded by floodwater.

Ms. Ninh Thi Thuy Tuong - Principal of Tan Thanh Kindergarten - absentmindedly looked back at the row of classrooms that welcome 300 boarding students every day.

"Almost all the teaching equipment and tools are broken. Anything made of plastic and metal is still there, but anything made of paper, fabric, wood and electronics is gone," Ms. Tuong choked up.

The principal said the flood on the evening of October 7th came too quickly. In just 30 minutes, the water rose to an adult’s chest.

Even with the support of police, soldiers, and parents near the school, the teachers could only transfer documents, study materials, and the TV and computer systems.

All the newly purchased paintings and toys worth more than 300 million VND were submerged in the floodwaters and had to be thrown away. So far, the damage has amounted to more than 1.1 billion VND. "At that time, there was thunder and lightning, the water was rushing in, we could only try to hold on to what we could," Ms. Tuong recalled.

When the water receded, the school asked someone to check the electronic equipment, but many items had been soaked in water for too long and were damaged beyond repair.

"We hope that authorities, sectors and benefactors will provide more support so that the children can return to school soon. In the long term, we only hope to expand the school and raise the ground level above the road (currently 1.5m lower - PV), which is now too low. Every rainy and flood season, teachers and students are worried," said the principal.

Previously, Vice Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee Le Xuan Loi directly inspected and directed the overcoming of flood consequences and requested My Thai commune to ensure facilities and conditions to welcome students back to school soon.

Preschool teachers "regret" the students' learning materials and supplies that are bent and covered in mud after the flood - Photo: HA QUAN

A teacher who was cleaning up was unfortunately injured and was helped out of the flooded area by his colleagues - Photo: HA QUAN

Dozens of teachers divided the work, cleaned the classroom early to welcome students - Photo: HA QUAN

Cleaning the school with the teachers are soldiers of Regiment 927 (Air Defense - Air Force) - Photo: HA QUAN

Ms. Luu Thi Ha, a teacher with more than 30 years of teaching experience, said that when the flood came, the water rose above her body, it was pitch dark, the electricity was out, and the teachers had to wear flashlights on their foreheads along with soldiers, police, and parents near the school to move their belongings. "Now parents call every day to ask: Has the water been drained from the school yet? When will we let our children go back to school?", she choked up - Photo: HA QUAN

As of October 12, My Thai commune still had about 8 to 10 villages flooded. Although the water was receding, many places were still flooded up to the head, many households still had to take temporary shelter at Duong Duc Secondary School.

In a classroom, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Do (54 years old, Cau Phen village) and her 95-year-old mother still cannot return home. She said that on the evening of October 7, in just half an hour, the water rose from her ankles to her calves.

"My mother and I only had time to bring clothes and follow the neighbors and the police to high ground. Luckily, a nephew quickly carried the pig from the pen to the end of the alley, but the motorbike was still there. In my entire life, I have never seen a flood rise so quickly," she said, trembling.

Her husband died early, and she relied on a few fields for everything. Now Mrs. Do has nothing.

Evacuating with her was her neighbor Nguyen Thi Tuom, a worker at an electronics company. Ms. Tuom said that she had no time to take anything with her during the night of the flood, only time to carry her two children to school. She was soaked, so she had to change clothes. Luckily, a benefactor had helped her so she had some clothes to change into. As a worker at an electronics company, she had to take leave from work for the past five days, not knowing when she would be able to return to work.

She is from Ha Giang and has been married for a year. "I just got married here and have never run from a flood before. That night, I only had time to hug my two children and run out of the house, soaked," she said.

Temporarily evacuated from school, Ms. Nguyen Thi Do was provided with enough food, water, and a place to sleep - Photo: HA QUAN

Many people still cannot return home to stabilize their lives after the historic flood, have to take shelter at schools, receive support from the commune and philanthropists - Photo: HA QUAN

My Thai Commune Youth Union and other forces received and distributed relief supplies to flood victims at Duong Duc Secondary School. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa - Secretary of My Thai Commune Youth Union, in the early days, people lacked clean water and necessities, but now, when rebuilding, they need rice, seeds, medicine, school supplies for students... - Photo: HA QUAN

According to the Bac Ninh Province Hydrometeorological Station, by 4:00 p.m. on October 12, the water level of the Thuong River at Phu Lang Thuong station had dropped above alert level 3, while the Phuc Loc Phuong and Dap Cau stations on the Cau River had dropped below alert level 3. It is forecasted that in the next 24 hours, the water level of the Thuong River will drop below alert level 3, while the water level of the Cau River will drop around alert level 1 - Photo: HA QUAN

HA QUAN - TAM LE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bac-ninh-nuoc-rut-cac-co-vot-vat-it-hoc-cu-chim-trong-bun-20251012173230634.htm