Ngo Tam and his son, Ngo Nam, used their small boat to save over 350 people from the deadly flooding that hit central Quang Binh Province on the night of October 4.

350 people had been rescued from the deadly flooding on this small boat

“It was 7 pm when the water started to rise rapidly under our feet,’ 45-year-old Ngo Tam recalled. “We quickly gathered some essential things and put them on the roof. The water was rising to our chest when my wife and our three children climbed on the roof. We suddenly heard cries from the nearby Cu Lap 1 Village. That village was located right by a river, which was the lowest area here. I immediately called my son Nam and a neigbour and sailed our boat to save people there.”

“The first family we saved was Chau’s. All four members in his family were stuck below their corrugated iron roof. We had to work had to remove the roof and take them out. They would surely drown if we were just a few minutes later,” Tam continued.

After transferring Chau’s family to a two-storey building some 1 km away, Tam returned to rescue others. His small boat could not carry more than 10 people at a time but then gradually all 350 villagers were brought to safety.

“We left the village when hearing no more cries,” Tam smiled. “It was then 4.30 am and we were all exhausted. My wife cried out happily when seeing us return. But right after having a light meal, I had to rush out when hearing more cries for help and helped another 15 people”.

Like other families in Son Trach Commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province, Tam’s house has also been heavily damaged by the flood. All the doors as well as furniture have been swept away by the river. Rice and other foods were spoiled. Five days have gone since the flood came and they are now running out of food.

Ngo Tam is working as a boatman in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park