15 unforgettable days of soldiers in Lang Nu village
Báo Dân trí•25/09/2024
(Dan Tri) - Reluctantly saying goodbye to the people of Lang Nu, nearly 400 soldiers ended half a month of arduous searching for the bodies of buried victims.
Half a month ago, Lang Nu village (Bao Yen, Lao Cai) was devastated by a terrible flash flood. The survivors could only clasp their hands and pray to the "sacred souls" of the deceased to show them where their bodies were buried. In that tragic situation, hundreds of soldiers and police officers persistently searched the entire scene of the destruction to bring the victims' bodies back to their families (Photo: Ngoc Tan). They divided into many search teams, turning over each block of wood and piece of debris to look for the victim's body (Photo: Ngoc Tan). Border Guard dogs were dispatched to the scene. Thanks to their sniffing ability, the dogs helped the soldiers detect many locations where bodies were found (Photo: Huu Khoa). From the third day onwards, the smell of death became a haunting obsession for the soldiers. Out of their responsibility to their fellow countrymen, they persevered in their search until the 15th day. The total number of bodies found so far is 53, with 11 people still missing (Photo: Ngoc Tan).
Private Thao Mi Linh (20 years old, soldier of Regiment 98, Division 316) was pierced in the leg by a sharp nail while wading through the mud searching for the bodies of his compatriots. He was given first aid by his comrades and taken to the hospital. (Photo: Huu Khoa - Ngoc Tan). Besides the army, we cannot fail to mention the police officers who were sent to the scene to search for the victim's body (Photo: Ngoc Tan). 300 soldiers of Division 316, dozens of border guards and sniffer dogs stayed at Lang Nu for half a month. They searched every square meter at the scene, pulling dozens more bodies out of the mud (Photo: Huu Khoa). After each shift, the soldiers gather at the stilt house of the Lang Nu people to eat and take a nap (Photo: Ngoc Tan). "You guys lie down on the mats, don't lean on the rice bags, your back will itch," the homeowner ran over to remind them, but the three soldiers still slept soundly (Photo: Ngoc Tan).
Seeing the makeshift accommodation of the soldiers, the villagers of Lang Nu were moved to tears. "Under the field (under the stilt house) is just for raising livestock, not for eating or sleeping, come upstairs to rest", Mrs. Hoang Thi Va (the owner of the house) said as if urging. The soldiers aged 18-20 were tired after hours of wading through the mud. After lunch, they lay down to take a nap right under the stilt house (Photo: Ngoc Tan). Many people in Lang Nu burst into tears on the day they saw off the soldiers returning to their units. According to the division representative, the saddest thing for the officers and soldiers is that there are still bodies of their compatriots that have not been found (Photo: F316). The tearful farewell between soldiers and children of Lang Nu (Photo: F316).
In the early morning of September 10, a terrible flash flood occurred in Lang Nu village (Phuc Khanh commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province), burying nearly 40 houses. As of September 24, 56 people were confirmed dead, 11 people were still missing. After 300 soldiers of Division 316 and Border Guard forces withdrew from the village, local military forces with nearly 200 people continued to search for the remaining victims.
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