Disaster in Hoc Village

October 9, 2017

In September we were finally able to travel to the village of Hoc, Muong La district, in Son La Province in Vietnam to review the damage from a recent flash flood, which resulted in mudslides. Heavy rains, triggered by a typhoon in the Gulf of Tonkin, devastated the area on August 4, 2017. When the disaster happened, we petitioned the LDS Church to give us some extra emergency relief funds to help the people. Because of the destruction, we have had to wait to visit the area.

District and commune leaders traveled with us to visit several families that have lost everything to the flood, some even lost a family member. We traveled to Son La and then on to Muong La. From there we went on a makeshift road - the original road was gone, to the village of Hoc.   One news report said that it was the worst flood in 70 years. The losses are estimated at 29 million US dollars.

As we moved up the mountain we could see the rubble of some homes and the damaged thatched roofed homes on stilts.

The destruction along the river’s path that traveled down the mountain, was horrific. A river that was once 20 meters wide became a raging torrent of over 200 meters wide. Some homes were left standing while water and boulders destroyed others. The power and rage of the river wiped out over 167 homes and     damaged many more.

These humble, hardworking people lost everything. The flood came with such power and rage that there was barely enough time to get out of its way, in the early morning hour. The huge boulders that came with the water were devastating and crushed and swept everything away in its path. Livestock were washed away and hundreds of acres of crops were damaged.

The government officials are doing everything they can to help the people, but the process to meet the desperate needs of the people, who have lost so much, is slow. Many organizations have donated items to help families rebuild their lives. We have been given the opportunity to help build prefabricated, temporary shelters for the people whose homes were completely destroyed. The shelter will help them get through the winter and give them the chance to make a new start on life.

The prefabricated, one room homes are approximately 27’ X 19’ and constructed completely of concrete and steel. They have some insulation in the ceiling and a cement floor. There are two doors on one side and two shuttered windows on the other. Electric power is being provided. 

We noticed that people are trying to make the best of the situation. They have been harvesting corn planted on the hillsides. They dry the corn, laying it out on large blankets by their homes, and then bag it to sell and use. In one area, the government was distributing mango trees to be planted. Some people are gathering the broken tree limbs and branches, leftover from the flood for firewood, to help with cooking and  to provide heat during the winter months ahead, as well as selling it to provide a small income. The people are being industrious and helping each other. They seem cheerful in spite of the meager circumstances. 

One young widow with two little children, who lost her husband in the flood, was given a cow that was a very welcome gift.  LDSC humanitarian donations have served to provide a home for her and her children to live in. 

We were humbled by this recent visit and felt grateful to see that the sacred funds of the Church are being distributed to the poor and needy in an efficient manner. We feel that we are blessed every day with opportunities to serve our fellow men. Mosiah 2:17.