On November 27, many residents paddled through expansive flooded fields to reach the Lac Dien Hamlet Cultural Centre to collect relief supplies from aid groups. In Tuy Phuoc Dong Commune, dozens of households are still living without power or running water.
Although the floodwaters have receded, some hamlets, including Pho Dong, Dong Dien and Luong Binh, remain unpowered. One resident, 72-year-old Phan Thi Sau, said her hamlet lost electricity when the storm first struck, and before repairs could begin, was hit by unprecedented flooding. “During the worst days of the flood we had to eat instant noodles raw because there was no electricity or clean water. Local authorities and charities have since distributed meals and drinking water, which helped somewhat," she said.
Mai Thi Kim Loan, from Lac Dien Hamlet, said her home regained electricity for a few hours late on November 26 but lost it again during the early hours of November 27.
Electricity suppliers in Gia Lai Province have been working for over three weeks to repair the grid but progress remains slow, especially in remote hamlets.
About 80 kilometres away in Hoai Nhon Bac Ward, local official Nguyen Ngoc Thach said he had mobilised residents to provide support. “Seeing people here suffer from flood damage is heartbreaking. The donations are modest but during a disaster every little bit helps. Together we can help people get back on their feet,” he said.
Provincial border-guard units transported nearly 80 tonnes of rice to support residents of Hai Minh fishing village in Quy Nhon.
Charities and local volunteers also distributed cooked meals, bottled water, instant noodles, rice and fish sauce along many routes.
According to Tuy Phuoc Dong Commune’s People’s Committee, since November 21 the locality has received relief from 140 aid groups: more than 27,000 parcels of essential goods and 190,500 bottles of drinking water, with a total estimated value of VND 8 billion (USD 307.692 million).
