VietNamNet Bridge - "Until now I do not understand why that day my stamina was so huge. Only when coming home, laying down to the bed, I felt the extreme tiredness in the body. The flood has passed, seeing everybody in my village is safe, I’m very happy," said the man who saved 42 families.

Phuc recounted the moments of life and death when he was saved by Mr. Ho So on November 15. Photo: VNE

Floods had withdrawn, the road to Hanh Tin Tay commune, Nghia Hanh district of Quang Ngai province on November 19 was covered by a thick layer of mud, which was as high as the knee. Along the road, houses were in ruins after the unprecedented flooding.

Being busy cleaning his house, Mr. Nguyen Hong Phuc said he could not believe that he was alive again. Still being startled, Phuc said that on the morning of November 15, he and his wife were taking care of their melon field on the mudflat between the two tributaries of the Ve River when it rained heavily, accompanied by strong winds.

Fearing danger to his wife, Phuc rowed a boat to take her to Hanh Tin Tay commune to find  shelter, then returning to the field. Less than one hour later, flood water came, sweeping away the boat. Phuc was alone in the sea of water.

Mr. Ho So (left) and his member families who rescued nearly 100 people in the horrific floods.

"Cold and hungry, I thought that my life was over. During my time of despair, the boat of Mr. Ho So came to rescue me. Even my cow also was pulled by the boat. Mr. So’s family brought me back from the dead," he said.

After rescuing Phuc, So’s family continued rowing a boat to save nearly 100 people in the low-lying Cat village in Hanh Tin Tay commune.

Mrs. Phan Thi Thi in Phu Thuong village said at about 7pm on November 15, flooding suddenly came. The water rose so fast that no one could save their assets. Thi and her husband quickly climbed to the roof. “At that time we were afraid that the house would collapse so we just tried to call for help," Thi said.

Hearing screams, So and his sons rowed their boat against the strong current to rescue Thi and her husband. Busy with rescuing others, all assets in So’s house was washed away by flooding.

"The flood washed away or damaged everything in my house, but I think that saving people is the most important," So said.

People in Hanh Tin Tay also praise Mr. Phan Thuan and two other young men in the village of Phu Khuong, who rescued dozens of people.

Thuan said he could not remember how many people whom he and two young men in the village saved in the floods. Mrs. Bui Thi Tuyet, Thuan’s wife, said right after floods overflowed at 8pm on November 15, Thuan left home with a neighbor – Mr. Phan Van Phat - rowing a boat to Cat village to rescue people.

"The more the flood rose, the bigger worry grew up on my head. Until 1am on November 16, my husband returned home, shaking with cold. That moment I could give a sigh of relief,” Tuyet recalled.

Mr. Phan Thuan in Phu Khuong village, Tay Hanh Tin commune saved more than 140 people.

"Until now I do not understand why that day my stamina was so huge. Only when coming home, laying down to the bed, I felt the extreme tiredness in the body. The flood has passed, seeing everybody in my village is safe, I’m very happy," said Mr. Phat, who joined Thuan to save over 140 people.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nhu, Vice Chairman of Hanh Tin Tay commune, said that Mr. Thuan and Mr. Phat save over 40 families, Mr. Ho So’s family saved 25 families, totalling 240 people. The best news is that the historical flood could not kill anyone in the commune.

"This joy is thanks to the courage of the good people like Mr. Thuan and Mr. So and the local youth team," Nhu said.

The local authorities have proposed Quang Ngai province to present Certificates of Merit to Mr. Ho So, Mr. Thuan and other who saved people in the historic floods.

VNE