Phạm Bá Huy (right) spent two hours in the water on Saturday to save a 52-year-old man who had clung to the top of a tree for 11 hours due to flood in central Thanh Hoá Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Typhoon Wipha has finally left Việt Nam, leaving in its wake a trail of death and destruction.

Six people lost their lives, 13 people remain unaccounted for, and homes, businesses and roads have been badly damaged.

But among all the heartache, heroes have risen, like the young man who put his own safety to one side to leap into fast-flowing water to pull a man trapped for 11 hours to safety, or the police officer buried alive as he desperately tried to evacuate an ethnic minority community.

Strong winds and flash floods devastated the country’s north and north-central localities over the weekend.

Many families still frantically await news of their missing loved ones.

As the storms passed, stories have emerged of bravery in the face of adversity.

Thao Văn Súa, 33, head of Nhi Sơn Commune’s Police Office in the Mường Lát District, north-central province of Thanh Hoá was on duty Saturday night.

As he desperately tried to help others, he was caught in a landslide and buried alive. Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Đào Ngọc Dung hailed the father-of-three a martyr.

Phạm Bá Huy, 26, of Sơn Điện Commune, Quan Sơn District, Thanh Hoá Province put his own life on the line Saturday evening.

The carpenter tied a rope around his body and spent two hours in the water trying to save 52-year-old Lương Văn Chon who had clung to the top of a tree for 11 hours.

After helping Chon to safety, carpenter Huy got into difficulties himself after the safety rope he was wearing snapped.

Having been brought up in the area, swimming in the river many times in his life, he eventually managed to reach dry ground.

In Hà Nội, one driver of a pick-up truck used his vehicle to clear fallen trees on Nguyễn Thái Học Street, even though it caused extensive damage to his vehicle.  

A man surveys the damage after his  house was destroyed in Thanh Hoá Province . — VNA/VNS Photo

Typhoon’s damage and remedying

The Centre Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control yesterday revealed that Thanh Hoá Province that was hit the hardest by the storms.

Three people died and 12 are still missing in the province.

Nguyễn Xuân Phương, head of Sa Ná Village of Quan Sơn District, said “It is the first time I have seen large and fast floods like this.”

Although local people actively prepared for the typhoon, 24 houses were still destroyed.

Villager Hà Văn Miệu, said Son - a local stream, usually docile - raised by up to 10 metres, destroying his home.

Now his family have no choice but to stay with relatives leaving him unsure about how he can rebuild his life.

Vi Thị Cư, another villager, said her house was completely destroyed by the flood.

In total, around 124 houses were wrecked, 907 others badly damaged and a number of roads were blocked in the province as of yesterday morning.

The typhoon also reportedly damaged 113 irrigation reservoirs in the north. — VNS