21-year-old Pit Thi Hien, a resident of Ta Do village in Muong Tip commune, Ky Son district, was expecting her third child. On 26/7, her family brought her to the communal health station. After four days of monitoring, at around 7 a.m. on 29/7, medical staff decided to transfer her to the Ky Son Medical Center in Muong Xen commune due to an overdue delivery.

The medical center is over 70 km from Muong Tip commune. However, heavy rains a week prior had caused landslides along the inter-commune road, making it impassable for both motorcycles and cars. The Muong Tip health station dispatched a doctor and a nurse, equipped with medical supplies, to accompany Hien's family on foot.

Nurse Moong Thi Hue described the treacherous journey from Muong Tip to Muong Xen, the former district center of Ky Son. Every 200 meters, they encountered landslides, with some sections covered in 30 cm of mud. They even had to cross streams. The group took turns supporting Hien, constantly reassuring her that they were "almost there".

Hien (second from the right) is helped by a doctor and nurse across a landslide-affected section of the road during her journey to give birth, morning of 29/7. Photo: Hung Le

The initial plan was to contact the nearest medical facility after navigating the landslides. They hoped to arrange for additional personnel and transport to take Hien to the hospital by motorcycle. However, after nearly three hours of walking, the group was still stranded.

Near noon, upon reaching Xop Kham village in Muong Tip commune, Hien went into labor and could no longer continue. "Turning back was impossible, and going forward was too strenuous. So we decided to deliver the baby right there on the roadside," Hue recounted.

Hue immediately called the Muong Xen Communal Health Station, requesting additional medical staff to trek through the forest and across streams to assist them.

At the scene, the medical personnel spread a large nylon sheet for Hien. After about 30 minutes, she gave birth to a baby boy weighing over 3 kg. However, due to exhaustion, Hien showed signs of severe fatigue.

A makeshift shelter is erected by the roadside to administer intravenous fluids to Hien, midday 29/7. Photo: Hung Le

After 1 p.m., the group attempted to take Hien and her newborn to the Ky Son District Medical Center for a health check. However, after walking a few hundred meters, Hien fainted twice, forcing them to stop.

"We built a temporary shelter by the road to give Hien intravenous fluids. Depending on her condition this afternoon, we will decide whether to take her and her baby to the Ky Son District Medical Center or return to the Muong Tip Communal Health Station for further monitoring," Hue explained.

Hien's stilt house was swept away by the recent floods. She, her husband, and their children will have to stay with relatives in Muong Tip commune for several months while they rebuild their home.

Nghe An province has experienced heavy rainfall since 22/7 due to Typhoon Wipha. Flooding from upstream combined with water discharged from hydroelectric plants caused widespread inundation, flash floods, and landslides in dozens of communes in former mountainous districts such as Ky Son, Con Cuong, Quy Chau, Que Phong, and Anh Son.

Authorities have reported 4 deaths due to landslides and flooding. Nine mountain communes, with over 6,000 households and more than 28,000 people, remain isolated, including the border commune of Nhon Mai in former Tuong Duong district, which is completely cut off.

Duc Hung