Quang Ngai commune still isolated after Damrey

The road to Tra Xinh Commune, Quang Ngai Province is still being blocked by landslides caused by Storm Damrey nearly a month ago.

The road to Tra Xinh Commune, Quang Ngai Province is still being blocked by landslides caused by Storm Damrey nearly a month ago.

Walking on the muddy road

The road near Tang River that connects Tra Xinh with Tay Tra District's centre is still blocked, forcing the residents to travel by boats or walk through hundreds of metres of mud.

Dinh Van Hien, a 10th grader at Tay Tra High School, said he had to stay at school for the past month and his parents sent him food at the weekend. "I miss my parents but the road is muddy and the huge rocks on the cliff look like they can fall down anytime," he said.

Repair work hindered by heavy rain

The repair work by local authorities is hindered by heavy rains. About 2,200 residents in the commune are struggling to go home. They have to climb the mountain to find firewoods and vegetables or walk 10km to Tay Tra District to buy necessities.

Chairman of Tra Xinh Commune People's Committee Ho Thanh Truyen said Storm Damrey caused huge landslide near Tang River on November 4. Patients are carried through the blocked section by boats or by a hammock.

Road to Tra Xinh Commune blocked

"Luckily, doctors have prepared medicines and have rapidly reacted to the situation so there have been no fatalities," Truyen said.

Hoang Nhu Lam, vice chairman of Tay Tra District, said heavy rains caused dozens of landslides along the road from Eo Chim Mountain Pass to the district's centre. Many houses were severely damaged or destroyed.