Despite warnings from previous accidents, hundreds of people in Quang Ngai Province still flock to local rivers in search for logs that have washed up from recent floods.

 Washed-up logs

The heavy rains that started on the night of November 14, along with hydropower plant discharges, caused serious flooding and submerged many provinces in the Highlands and central region. The floods also swept down trees from upstream to Son Tinh District.

Hundreds of people went to the rivers to look for the wood. Most of the logs are 50-70cm in diameter, but some people have reportedly been able to salvage logs 100cm in diameter as well as some timbers. Meanwhile, some of the most valuable woods, such as ironwood' or the Talauma gioi A. Chev. 'Magnoliaceae' were put up for immediate sale for hundreds of millions of VND.

Even though many people have died in this pursuit, this is a recurring trend that happens every after floods. In October, a veteran 'wood hunter' in Son Diem Commune, Ha Tinh Province, had his boat capsised in the strong flow of water when he was trying to salvage lumber. It was reported that 10 people died from the wood hunting activity in this area.

Vo Dinh Ha, head of Son Diem Police Department said, "We give warnings about the dangers of this activity and tell people not to go into rivers at these times but the warnings are often ignored."

A man pleased with a log 100cm in diameter

Hundreds of logs and branches flow down the rivers after flood

Dragging logs ashore

People sell logs after they are salvaged by the river