Trần Văn Dũng drives his excavator to re-open a blocked road in in Phước Sơn District, the central province of Quảng Nam. — Photo baogiaothong.vn

QUẢNG NAM — Trần Văn Dũng, of Đại Lộc District, spent over a month in an attempt to re-open sections of roads that were blocked by landslides, triggered by storms and torrential rains, in Phước Sơn District, the central province of Quảng Nam, in late October.

Dũng, a worker with the Quảng Nam Transportation Construction Joint Stock Company, who has over 10 years of experience driving an excavator, said he was sent to the district on October 30 to help re-opening the blocked roads.

At that time, Dũng’s house also suffered during the torrential rain. With his roof blown off, his wife and children had to live in his parents’ house.

“When I receive the order to work in the district, I was worried because my house was also damaged and more landslides could occur,” he said.

"However, I still decided to go the district, worked to re-open the blocked roads and saved isolated people," he said.

"Because they really needed us," he added.

"Having over 10 years driving an excavator at construction sites in the most dangerous mountainous areas, I was still surprised about the terrible level of landslides in the district,” he said.

Some roads were completely cut off, other sections were buried by a huge amount of rocks and soil, he said.

Sometimes, they just re-opened a section of road, and the next day it was blocked again because of another landslide, isolating even more people.

Thousands of others worked to re-open blocked roads and save isolated people despite the danger in the district.

Nguyễn Đặng Đức, of Hòa Vang District, Đà Nẵng City, another worker of the company, also went to Phước Sơn District to help in clearing blocked roads.

When Đức received the order to come to the landslide-affected areas, it was raining hard and his wife told him to wait for the rain to stop.

“I told her that all workers who received the order are ready to go, so I could not wait,” he said.

Đức said the work was hard. He and his colleagues often had to eat their meals in the excavator. When the night came, they even slept in the excavator.

Their meals were only instant noodles and milk, he said, the Giao Thông (Transport) online newspaper reported.

A representative of Phước Sơn District said when the roads connecting communes of Phước Kim, Phước Thành and Phước Lộc were blocked by landslides, the communes were isolated.

“So the most urgent task is to re-open the roads to initiate rescue activities,” he said.

Local administrations of the district sent companies operating in mineral mining in the district to re-open the blocked roads, he said.

However, the companies’ workers gave up due to hard work after several days.

Then, the provincial Transport Department mobilised workers of Quảng Nam Transportation Construction Joint Stock Company to do the job.

Lưu Huyền Thoại, chairman of the People’s Committee of Phước Lộc Commune, said after 20 days of being isolated, residents only wanted the blocked road connecting the commune with other areas to be quickly re-opened.

After the road was re-opened, food and drink were supplied for the people.

“They all are happy,” he said.

Văn Anh Tuấn, director of the provincial Transport Department, who spent all day and night directing the workers to re-open the blocked roads, said the transport sector was ready to help despite the danger.

"Our officers and workers always worked on the front line to re-open the blocked roads," he said.

On November 23, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lê Trí Thanh gave certificates of merit for the transport sector and its workers to recognise their silent efforts in the attempt to re-open blocked roads in the province.— VNS