(VOVWORLD) - Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall killed at least 13 rescuers in central Vietnam, part of a 21-member team sent to rescue workers trapped by a landslide at a hydropower plant in Thua Thien-Hue province. The rescue team included journalist Pham Van Huong, head of the Department of Information and Communication of the Thua Thien-Hue e-portal, who was covering the rescue effort.
 Journalist Pham Van Huong. (Photo: VOV) |
Pham Van Huong’s family, relatives and neighbors could not contain their tears when they heard the news.
“We were shocked to learn that Huong had died in this incident. He was an enthusiastic journalist who was always ready to cover any story,” said Mr. Ho Dung, a neighbor of Huong’s in Hue city.
On the afternoon of October 11, a landslide at Rao Trang 3 hydropower plant in Phong Dien district buried at least 17 workers. The next morning, Huong joined a 21-member rescue team organized by the 4th Military Region of the Vietnam People’s Army to rescue the trapped workers.
At midnight on October 13, the rescue team was buried by another landslide of earth and rocks. 13 officers and soldiers, including journalist Pham Van Huong, died at ranger station 67.
“Huong is very hard-working. He is friendly and helpful to other colleagues,” said reporter Le Anh Khoa, Huong’s colleague.
Pham Van Huong had worked at A Luoi district’s radio and TV station for 20 years. In 2013, he became head of the Department of Information and Communication of Thua Thien-Hue province’s e-portal.
The day before Huong went to Rao Trang, he was covering flood recovery efforts in Quang Dien district. Mr. Doan Ngoc Hieu, who works at the Department of Information and Communication, said, “Huong’s death is a great loss to his family, relatives, and colleagues. He was a role model, a dedicated journalist who spared no effort to cover breaking news stories for the public”.
Journalist Pham Van Huong was awarded a medal in recognition of his great courage and posthumously honored as martyr.