The simple daily activity of crossing a river is something that puts the lives of some villagers at risk.
For residents of Dak Nong Commune (Ngoc Hoi District, Kon Tum Province), crossing the river at Production Area No.154, Dak Ang Commune, Ngoc Hoi District, is a dangerous task that can only be done using a cable.
About 100 people from Production Area No.154 have the same routine everyday. They use a 150 metre cable that is about 20 metres above the water to reach the Ho Chi Minh Highway to go to markets and schools.
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| Little children cross the river daily using a cable to go to shool. |
Tran Van Bang, a student in third grade, said that besides his books, he also has to bring along with him a pulley that weighs about 2 kilograms when he goes to school.
Tran Khac Chin, from Production Area No.154 shared, "Po Ko River used to be much narrower in previous years, when we were still be able to use our ferry-boats to cross the river. However, the river expanded significantly over the years due to storms and floods. It it now much harder to cross with its rapid flow. The two banks of the river are now dozens of metres high above the water surface. It is now impossible for us to travel by ferry-boats and climb up the high banks."
In 2007, 24 households in the commune, each contributed money to have a cable set up across the river. Everyone, from old to young, has to swing themselves across to get to the other side of the river.
Cassava roots grown in this area have been selling well in recent years, and a few locals have been able to buy a motorbike. However, unable to cross the river with their bike, many left their bikes in friends houses along the Ho Chi Minh Highway.
It was reported that the State has invested an amount of VND 20 billion (USD 1 million) to build a bridge across Po Ko River, the section that belongs to Dak Gia No.1 Village, Dak Ang Commune. However, for the villagers in this area to reach the bridge, they would have to walk a distance of 6 kilometres, cross the bridge, then walk another 6 kilometres back to their home. This makes a total travel distance of 12 kilometres, while the actual distance from one side to the other is only about half a kilometre.
Even when this bridge is completed, many villagers here would still choose to cross the river by cable.
This method of crossing the river however, put the lives of about 100 people from Production Area No.154 and people from the other side who cross to do their farming on this side, at huge risks. According to the locals, a number of accidents have occurred when the cable has snapped or people slip their hands and fall into the river. Some were seriously injured.
The most recent accident happened to A Phin (Dak ang Commune Deputy Chief of Police) and his daughter while they tried to cross the river. The pulley that they were holding on, suddenly broke. Both the father and the daughter fell into the river. A Phin passed out as the broken pulley hit him hard on the head, while the little girl was swept away by the swift-flowing water. Luckily, the locals nearby saw what happened and were be able to save both A Phin and his daughter. The girl suffered a broken arm, but A Phin because of his injured head, had to stay in the hospital for several days.
Chairman of the Dak Nong Commune People's Committee, Xieng Thanh ty said, "During the massive storm in September last year, all suspension bridges across Po Ko River were swept away by strong and heavy floods. Production Area No.154 is not the only area where they're using a cable to cross the river. This is how villagers cross the river at other places too."
"We can't do much due to our low budget. We really need all the possible help and support from the upper authorities and donators from all over the country to make it easier for students to go to school, " Xieng Thanh Ty added.
Hanging over the middle of the river.
Instead of walking a distance of 12 kilometres to the other side, people choose to cross the river this way.
Many accidents have occurred.