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All trash around Chua Cau area in Hoi An cleared by the morning of November 1 |
Military trucks from the Military School of Military Region 5, the Border Guard Command, the Defensive Area Command Region 5-Dien Ban under the Da Nang Municipal Military Command, and Brigade 172 of Naval Region 3 lined the streets, bearing the motto, “Helping the people is a command from the soldier’s heart.” With urgency and determination, the forces dredged and removed thousands of cubic meters of mud and waste from key streets such as Hung Vuong, Nguyen Du, Cao Hong Lanh, and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, as well as small alleys along both sides of the Hoai River.
At Chua Cau area, under the command of Major Nguyen Thanh Luan, Head of Battalion 111 of the Defensive Area Command Region 5-Dien Ban, soldiers cleared 15 truckloads of waste within just two hours. Nearby, troops helped schools clean classrooms, wash furniture, and restore hygiene. Thanks to their support, Cam Pho and Cam Nam health stations were able to resume operations by noon, after a two-day suspension due to flooding.
Senior Colonel Truong Thanh Quang, Deputy Political Commissar of the Military School of Military Region 5, said that in addition to cleaning main streets and schools, nearly 100 officers and soldiers were deployed to assist policy families and the elderly. Military engineers and electricians were also helping residents inspect and repair flood-damaged electrical and water systems.
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Militia members of Hoi An ward removing debris and mud from the streets |
During the historic flood, the Hoi An and Western Hoi An ward military commands evacuated nearly 3,000 residents and tourists from deeply flooded areas to safety. They also helped volunteer groups deliver food and supplies to affected communities. Although their own offices remained covered in mud, the soldiers followed the motto “Help the people first, then ourselves,” dedicating all manpower to assist residents in clearing debris and cleaning streets for two consecutive days.
In the late afternoon, under the Hoi An Tay Bridge, rescue boats from Brigade 172 continued searching for a 56-year-old man who went missing after his boat capsized three days earlier. Colonel Dao Huu Ninh, the brigade’s Deputy Head of Logistics and Technical Services, said that despite the heavy water flow from the Thu Bon River and harsh conditions, soldiers worked tirelessly day and night to locate the missing man. Following reports that floodwaters had swept away dozens of prefabricated houses possibly trapping the victim, the brigade dispatched a heavy-duty crane truck to retrieve the structures from the river.
Nguyen Thanh Hoang, a skilled bulldozer and excavator operator and a standing militia member of the Hoi An Tay Ward Military Command, organized dozens of free trips to transport mud and debris. Each contribution, whether manpower or resources, reflected a shared wish for normal life to return quickly.
Tran Thi Cam Nhung, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hoi An Ward Party Committee, said, “Four years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, soldiers risked their safety to disinfect and clean the town. Now, in the face of devastating floods, they once again stand shoulder to shoulder with us, working tirelessly and wholeheartedly. The people of Hoi An will never forget this kindness.”
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Soldiers from Regiment 143, Division 315 clean graves affected by the floods at Duy Nghia War Cemetery. |
After days of flooding, many cemeteries in Da Nang and Quang Ngai were buried under mud and debris. On the afternoon of November 1, at Duy Nghia War Cemetery in Da Nang, under the command of Senior Captain Vo Thanh Ly, Head of Company 7, Battalion 2, Regiment 143, Division 315 of Military Region 5, young soldiers carefully cleaned and polished each grave, restoring dignity and respect to the resting places of fallen heroes.
Translated by Tran Hoai