On 5/1, many residents of Phu Quy special zone went to buy gas, but all stores on the island had temporarily stopped selling due to depleted supply. Many had to walk because their vehicles ran out of fuel.

"Without gas, people have to walk or hitch a ride with those who still have fuel", Duong Bay, a resident on the island, said.

Stores on Phu Quy island were selling sparingly, and by this morning, all gas was gone. *Resident provided*.

Phu Quy currently has three private gas stations. Two days ago, these locations were still selling sparingly, with each person only able to buy one to two liters. This morning, all of them closed.

Le Hong Loi, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Quy special zone, said that by the afternoon of the same day, all stores had depleted their reserve gas supply due to bad weather, as fuel ships from the mainland have been unable to reach the island.

Off the coast of Phu Quy, there are northeasterly winds of level 6–7, gusting to level 8, with waves 3–5 meters high, causing rough seas. Meanwhile, fuel transport ships can only depart when winds are below level 7.

The special zone authorities have requested relevant units to urgently expedite the supply, to quickly bring gas to the island for residents' daily needs.

Located 56 nautical miles from the mainland, Phu Quy spans over 16 square kilometers and is home to over 30,000 residents, with transportation primarily by sea. In the past, the island has also experienced gas shortages during adverse weather.

Since late December, high waves and strong winds have caused many passenger ferries to be suspended. Some families have had to charter helicopters at a cost of hundreds of millions of dong to transport relatives to the mainland for emergency medical care.

Tu Huynh