Dozens of border guards from Lam Dong province participate in salvaging and repairing damaged fishing boats. Earlier, these forces had relocated many people and their assets to safety.

On 5/12, dozens of fishing boats lay damaged and submerged by floodwaters along both banks of the Phuoc The River, near the Lien Huong estuary in Lien Huong commune.

Yesterday, the Long Song irrigation reservoir released over 1,200 m3/s of water downstream. This caused the Phuoc The River to flow rapidly, sweeping away many boats and submerging hundreds of homes and crops in Lien Huong commune.

A submerged fishing boat lies capsized and stranded in the riverbed. Its owner and several hired workers are attempting to right the boat for repairs. "I had just returned from fishing. Despite anchoring it tightly, the current was too strong; there was no time to react," said Chin, 56 years old.

Since morning, residents, with support from military forces, have been salvaging submerged boats stranded in the riverbed. Some boats that drifted out to sea and sank have not yet been recovered.

Residents stated they were notified of the reservoir release. However, they did not anticipate the large volume of water, which caused dozens of fishing boats to break their anchors and drift freely.

Fishermen look despondently at their heavily damaged assets after the recent flood. "All the boats, including the engines, are completely damaged after the flood. There's nothing left," said Xuan, a boat owner.

Fishermen clean up and repair fishing boats damaged by collisions on the Phuoc The River.

Many damaged boat wrecks are piled up alongside fishermen's basket boats. Local residents describe this as the biggest flood in the past 20 years.

According to the Lien Huong People's Committee, the commune has over 24 boats sunk, 30 boats that broke anchor and drifted out to sea, and many boats damaged by collisions.

"While there's still life, there's still hope. We're trying to repair them to go out to sea. Tet is approaching," said Lac, 36 years old, as he repaired a boat with friends and relatives.

This afternoon, 10 boats were successfully salvaged.

The floods also devastated many fishermen's makeshift shelters at the Lien Huong estuary.

Nguyen Truong Sa, Chairman of Lien Huong People's Committee, explained that strong currents from upstream combined with the narrow riverbed at the estuary caused fishing boats to break their anchors and sink very quickly. Even boats secured with multiple ropes were torn loose and drifted out to sea.

Phuoc Tuan - Viet Quoc