Giant wood debris covers the upper reaches of the Nam Non River, making it unsafe for people to travel.

In early mid-August, although the historic flood has passed for nearly a month, the people of Huu Khuong commune, Nghe An province still have constant worries.

Being an isolated commune in the heart of Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir, people in Huu Khuong commune mainly travel by boat from Thuong Luu ferry (next to Ban Ve hydroelectric dam) to the commune center. However, the historic flood at the end of July 2025 left a huge amount of wood waste stretching over 1km, covering the surface of Nam Non river - the only waterway to enter this border commune.

rac.hoBanVe1.jpg — Wood waste covers the Nam Non River – upstream of Ban Ve Hydroelectric Reservoir. Photo: TUAN VU

According to local people, this situation has lasted for nearly a month now. The amount of waste including plants, trees, wood, bamboo, has been carried by floods from Laos and gathered on the upper surface of Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir, especially in the area passing through Huu Khuong commune, Nghe An province.

Clip: Wood waste covers a large area, stretching for kilometers on the river surface, making it very difficult for people to travel by waterway to Huu Khuong commune.

According to Chairman of Huu Khuong Commune People's Committee La Van Thai, the amount of garbage is mainly large trees, bamboo, rotten wood, and household items of people swept away by the flood. For nearly a month now, the Nam Non River passing through Huu Khuong Commune has been covered with wood garbage, making it difficult for officials, people, and relief teams to travel to the commune.

Previously, from Thuong Luu ferry, it took 2-3 hours to get to the commune by boat. Now, to get to the commune, officials and teachers working in other places in the area have to spend twice as much time. The wooden areas cover the surface, boats cannot pass through, we have to follow the path along the river bank full of jagged rocks, steep slopes, very dangerous, Mr. La Van Thai worried.

As a teacher stationed in Huu Khuong commune, Mr. Tuan (from Tuong Duong commune) returned to school on August 1. According to Mr. Tuan, for teachers from other localities "stationed" in Huu Khuong, the most convenient way to get to the main school and other schools in the area is on the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir. However, in recent days, the lake surface has been covered with wood waste, making it very difficult for him and his colleagues to move around. Normally, when going in and out is convenient, sometimes when there is wind, the waste can be pushed to one direction to make it easier to move. "Before, there was no waste in the lake bed, we could go to school by waterway, it took about 60-90 minutes, now the waste is covered with it, it moves very slowly and dangerously, taking 120-140 minutes," Mr. Tuan lamented.

The wood debris covering the lake surface not only obstructs waterway traffic and pollutes the environment, threatening the ecosystem and water resources. We hope that the authorities and the Hydropower Plant will take measures soon to ensure the safety of local people's travel, Chairman of the People's Committee of Huu Khuong commune hopes.

Although not a border commune, Huu Khuong (far from the old Tuong Duong district center) is 180km by road. Traffic is difficult, so production in Huu Khuong is heavily self-sufficient. Therefore, the poverty rate is more than 76%. Currently, Nghe An province is implementing a project to open a road from Yen Na commune to Huu Khuong commune, to Nhon Mai commune. When the road is completed, it is expected to help Huu Khuong eliminate its isolated location, people can travel conveniently, and no longer have to rely on boats on Ban Ve lake.

HO VAN NGOI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/rac-go-khong-lo-phu-kin-thuong-nguon-song-nam-non-nguoi-dan-di-lai-bat-an-post807840.html