Assets swept away by floodwaters, billionaire suddenly becomes homeless

Mr. Tan Kim Dien gave a Tuoi Tre reporter who joined the relief team a ride from Muong Hum commune to the center of Bat Xat district (Lao Cai province) - Photo: CT

Giving a Tuoi Tre reporter a ride on a motorbike from Muong Hum district to the center of Bat Xat district, Mr. Dien shared the sad story about the flood water.

The flood swept away all his papers, properties, houses and even hundreds of tons of sturgeon, causing him to lose focus while driving. Laughing bitterly, he admitted that he used to have a lot of money. And this was the first time in more than ten years that he had to ride a motorbike from Muong Hum to Lao Cai city.

Previously, he was the owner of a large sturgeon and salmon farm in Muong Hum commune. But on the night of September 9, heavy rain caused the rivers to rise, and floods from the mountaintops swept away the entire fish farm.

The entire spacious house in Seo Po Ho village was also completely buried by the landslide. All of the family's assets (gold, money, documents, etc.) and the pickup truck were partly buried and partly swept away by the floodwaters after the recent storm No. 3 Yagi.

"I've been wandering around all week, digging and searching with all my might but I still can't find the safe," Mr. Dien said sadly.

He said he ran to Lao Cai city to find the inspection center and ask for information about insurance packages for the pickup truck that had been swept away by the flood. All in the hope of receiving compensation and some support to "get capital to rebuild".

"The most painful thing is that 100 tons of sturgeon and salmon worth more than 20 billion VND were washed away in seconds. Now I just hope to get support to borrow money to restore the fish, build a house and start over," he confided.

Losing everything is so sad, it breaks my heart, but it's lucky to still have people, like my friend who stayed at the fish farm because he was sorry for his belongings and was swept away by the flood and still hasn't been found.

Mr. Tan Kim Dien

Muong Hum Commune, Bat Xat District has many large landslides - Photo: CT

The helplessness of a father after the flood

While trying to speed up the car to get over the high pass, Mr. Dien told his daughter, who is currently a third-year student in the education department, heard about the family's story and asked to quit school.

When his daughter said she wanted to quit school, Mr. Dien's wife agreed, but he was hesitant. As a father, he only wanted his children to have a good education, so he really wanted them to continue going to school. But the reality of "what the family will eat tonight, where they will sleep" was beyond his ability.

"Deep down, I really want my child to go to school, but I don't know how. For now, I'll just try to hold on as long as I can," said Mr. Dien.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gia-san-troi-theo-nuoc-lu-ti-phu-bong-thanh-vo-gia-cu-20240921141848781.htm