103-year-old woman tells story of escaping flood with two dogs in poor neighborhood at Long Bien bridge

103-year-old woman tells story of escaping flood with two dogs in poor neighborhood at Long Bien bridge

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 13:45 PM (GMT+7)

Coming to Hanoi in 1972, Ms. Tran Thi Tham (born in 1921) worked as a scrap collector and street vendor. The recent historic flood severely damaged her dilapidated rented room at the foot of Long Bien Bridge, and all her belongings were swept away and destroyed.

On September 10, the water level of the Red River rose, causing severe flooding in the entire riverside area of ​​Hanoi. The image of the boarding house at the foot of Long Bien Bridge was recorded on September 11.

On the morning of September 18, after many days submerged in floodwaters, the poor neighborhood appeared desolate. The water had receded, but the consequences for the people here were enormous. Many houses were completely submerged, with mud still clinging to the roofs.

The poor neighborhood at the foot of Long Bien bridge is a gathering place for homeless people. They pool their money to rent a room here for between 1 million and 1.5 million VND, not including electricity and water.

Among those renting here is Mrs. Tran Thi Tham (from Kinh Mon, Hai Duong). She was born in 1921, this year she turns 103 years old, although she is old, she is still clear-minded and healthy. Every day she sells cotton swabs and children's toys along Dong Xuan market, Hanoi's Old Quarter.

She said that on September 9, the whole neighborhood had to evacuate to ensure their safety because the river water was rising. "My neighbors told me to go to the Phuc Xa Ward People's Committee, but because I still had two dogs, I didn't go and went to the gate of Long Bien market to lie down under a fruit stall," she said.

"I value my two dogs more than my life, they accompany me day and night. The gate of Long Bien market was not flooded, I was there and someone fed and gave me water so I was still healthy," she shared.

After 5 days of being away from home, on September 14, Ms. Tham and the residents of the poor boarding house returned. What appeared before their eyes was a scene of devastation, everything swept away or submerged in mud. She added: "I only had time to bring my personal papers and two dogs. The toys and cotton buds for sale were kept in a cart and taken by the young men in the neighborhood to a place where someone would look after them."

Just yesterday (September 17), the Mid-Autumn Festival, although very tired, Mrs. Tham still pushed her cart to sell drums (a type of toy for children). She only sold 6 pieces in the whole night, but she was still very happy because someone bought them to save money to buy medicine when she was sick.

Having lived in Hanoi for 52 years, she said that at first she lived on a small boat on the Red River, then the Phuc Xa ward government persuaded her to move ashore to rent a place to stay because it was too dangerous to stay on the boat. She has two children, a boy and a girl, and two grandchildren, but one has become a monk at a pagoda, and the other has followed her mother to live somewhere she doesn't know. Her son died of a serious illness more than 20 years ago, and she has lost contact with her daughter who went to work far away in China.

At her old age, she is still alone. That is why she raises dogs to keep her company. She said that her income from selling goods on the street and collecting scrap is about 60,000 VND - 100,000 VND/day, enough to pay for a room and eat vegetables and porridge. "These past few days, benefactors have come to give us rice and water. We are very happy," she added.

On the morning of September 18, the boarding house appeared with a dark, damp scene.

The men in the neighborhood are trying to collect trash so that people can return to their daily activities.

"We've been working for two days now and it's still not finished. We're so tired, but we still have to live so we have to try," said this man from Hung Yen.

Older people carry light items, some do the laundry, some do the dishes, some do the drying... everyone contributes a part of the effort.

Books, belongings, suitcases... left over from the flood are spread out right under Long Bien bridge.

Ms. Pham Thi Luyen and her family are cleaning their rented room. "This morning, we received clean water from benefactors. We want to have electricity and clean water soon so we can use it stably," Ms. Luyen said.

In the photo are Mr. Hoc and his nephew. He said he has been disabled since he was a child and has been in Hanoi for a long time but has not saved any money due to his medical treatment, so he had to rent a room in this neighborhood. "My house is close to the river so there is nothing left, the walls are still damp with water. Yesterday, some people gave me a fan, but there is no electricity to use," Mr. Hoc confided.

Image of people cleaning up and reusing usable objects after the flood.

Just a few hundred meters from the center of Hanoi, the boarding house area at the foot of Long Bien Bridge is home to workers from many places. Over the years, especially during the holidays, local authorities and all levels of government have always paid attention to the situation of people with difficult circumstances, especially those living at the foot of Long Bien Bridge.

Le Hieu

Source: https://danviet.vn/cu-ba-103-tuoi-ke-chuyen-chay-lu-cung-hai-chu-cho-tai-xom-ngheo-chan-cau-long-bien-20240918131218741.htm