Hearts that never rest
On the night of November 18, the sky over Quy Nhon was pitch black. Rain poured down, the wind howled, and the sound of surging water seemed as if it wanted to swallow the beautiful coastal city. Within just a few hours, the once bustling streets turned into raging rivers. Before people could react, the water had risen to mid-house level and then quickly up to the rooftops.
In that scene, the wail of rescue sirens, shouts echoing through the darkness and the faint beams of torches on the Border Guard canoes became signals of life.
From last night until this morning, rainfall has decreased significantly compared with the previous day, and water levels have started to recede slowly. However, communes and wards remain deeply flooded, with many areas at risk of landslides. Border Guard forces of Gia Lai province, together with local authorities, continue tirelessly to support residents, ensuring no one is left behind.
From 6 pm on November 18, the Provincial Border Guard Command placed 100% of its troops on combat standby. By today, the force has deployed 44 working teams with 331 officers and soldiers; mobilised 8 cars, 7 canoes, 1 inflatable boat, 80 motorbikes, along with a large volume of rescue materials such as: 3 large tents, 17 rescue rafts, 200 life-buoy rings, 350 life jackets, 1,000m of rope, 22 sets of medical supplies…
All of these have been brought down to the affected areas and, in coordination with other forces, have helped relocate 4,455 households with 13,735 residents in 14 out of 15 communes and wards to safe locations.
The soldiers not only rescued people, but also helped residents stack sandbags to prevent water from entering houses, erect temporary tents, and distribute medicine and food. In Quy Nhon alone, today the provincial Border Guard has mobilised 3 canoes, 7 vehicles, dozens of motorbikes, 50 life jackets, 50 life-buoy rings and 50 officers and soldiers to participate in rescue operations in groups 46–54, area 6, Quy Nhon Dong ward and Tuy Phuoc commune.
The canoes, working together with jet skis operated by volunteer groups, threaded through narrow alleys to deliver food directly to households, including those farthest away and hardest to reach.
“Leaving no one hungry, cold or in danger”
The heavy rains have submerged the entire eastern area of Gia Lai province. Many areas have been cut off, with residents standing behind fences, in doorways or on rooftops, waving their hands for help.
Witnessing such scenes, Lieutenant Pham Binh Tay, Head of Reconnaissance of Nhon Ly Border Guard Station, and his comrades braved the fast-flowing floodwaters to help an elderly person out of a deeply flooded house. Clothes soaked through and hands shaking with cold, he still held a small child tightly against his chest, shielding the child with his raincoat.
On that night when floodwaters covered Quy Nhon, hundreds of Border Guard officers and soldiers did not sleep. Some steered canoes, others carried sacks of rice, boxes of instant noodles and bottles of water. One soldier, after placing an elderly woman safely onto a canoe, immediately turned away and plunged back into the water to rescue another family. A young soldier, having just brought a family to safety, had no time to rest before turning his canoe back towards the flooded area.
In the wind and rain, their shouts to one another, the roar of canoe engines and the sound of sobbing mingled with the joy and relief of people being rescued. On that sleepless night, no one thought about exhaustion or hunger. There was only one goal: to get people out of danger and ensure no one was left behind.
Lieutenant Pham Binh Tay said emotionally: “I could not hold back my tears seeing the suffering of local people. Their houses and belongings were submerged in the floodwater; they had nothing left, they were hungry and cold. I only hope the water recedes quickly so that people will suffer less.”
Joy seemed to burst when packets of food and bottles of drinking water were handed directly to residents. Amid drifting houses and lost possessions, Vo Thi Kim Huong, from Quy Nhon Dong ward, choked up: “For days trapped in the floodwaters, we only tried to hold on in hunger and cold. Thankfully, Border Guard soldiers and volunteer groups braved the flood to reach us, bringing food and drinking water. We are deeply moved.”
In the darkness, torchlight flickered, canoe engines cut through the water, and voices carried across the flood. Border Guard soldiers waded through torrents, supported the elderly, carried small children and helped each household out of danger. Some soldiers, hands trembling from the cold, still held children tightly to their chests, shielding them with their raincoats. Others carried elderly people on their backs, carefully feeling their way through swirling floodwaters.
These images have become symbols of humanity. The canoes, jet skis, bowls of hot porridge and life jackets are not only rescue tools, but also warmth and a source of confidence helping people overcome hardship.
Comrade Nguyen Thanh Cong, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Gia Lai Provincial Border Guard Command, affirmed: “From early morning, all equipment and forces were deployed to the affected areas. We mainly use canoes and jet skis to reach each hamlet and each house to deliver food, drinking water, medicine, blankets and clothing.
In particular, if anyone with weak health or living in dangerous areas is identified, we are ready to relocate them to safe places. Our principle is that no one is left hungry, no one is left cold and no one is left in danger.”
“These actions may not seem large, but they represent sharing, compassion and the spirit of ‘the healthy leaf shielding the torn leaf’. They reflect the noble spirit of Uncle Ho’s soldiers, the green-uniformed soldiers in the hearts of the people,” Comrade Nguyen Thanh Cong stressed.
Tomorrow, the Provincial Border Guard will continue to perform its tasks. Not only during the floods, but also after the waters recede, the force will continue to mobilise equipment and personnel to help local people overcome difficulties and stabilise their lives: repairing houses, cleaning up belongings, improving environmental sanitation and supporting the remediation of disaster consequences.
In hardship, bonds between soldiers and civilians grow stronger. People remain optimistic and trusting; soldiers are steadfast and dedicated. Together, they form a heroic song amid the floods, affirming the strength of solidarity and the human spirit of the Vietnamese people in times of adversity.
