Tragedy blankets a once-peaceful village as sorrow and loss grip the hearts of its people.

On September 12, a heartbreaking story from the flood-ravaged Lào Cai region shocked and deeply saddened the community. At Phúc Khánh Kindergarten No. 1, located in Làng Nủ Hamlet, Phúc Khánh Commune, Bảo Yên District, a catastrophic landslide occurred, taking the lives of 10 children out of a class of 18. This tragedy has left not only the local residents grieving but also stirred emotions across the country as the haunting images of the event spread widely.

The Việc Tử Tế Fanpage shared the story on September 12, along with photos that left many in tears. In the images, the kindergarten teachers are seen sobbing beside the children's belongings—small drawings, cups, tiny sandals—remnants of the young lives that were taken too soon. "Today, the children should have been in class, playing as usual, but the brutal storm has stolen these little angels," one commenter wrote, encapsulating the grief felt by many.

The landslide struck early in the morning, as torrential rains caused by the storm triggered a mass of soil and rocks to slide down from the mountainside, burying the small village. Many homes were swept away by the floodwaters, and the kindergarten, located near the base of the hill, became a scene of unspeakable tragedy as more than half of the children in one class were unable to survive the disaster.

According to the Lào Cai Provincial People’s Committee, as of 9 a.m. on September 12, the landslide in Làng Nủ Hamlet had claimed 41 lives, while 54 people were still missing, and 17 were injured and receiving treatment. The area affected included 37 households, with a total population of 158 people. Among them, there were 18 children under the age of 6, and 14 others under the age of 14. This is a small and remote area, inhabited mainly by ethnic minorities, where living conditions are still very challenging.

The natural disaster not only caused loss of life but also destroyed the homes and possessions of many families. Throughout Lào Cai Province, the total number of deaths from floods and landslides has reached 88, with 85 people still missing, and 70 injured. Authorities and rescue teams are working tirelessly to search for the missing, but efforts are hampered by harsh weather and difficult terrain.

This tragic story has deeply resonated across the nation, highlighting the devastating force of nature and leaving an indelible scar on the families who lost loved ones, especially parents whose children were among the victims.

This heartbreaking story from Phúc Khánh Kindergarten No. 1 truly weighs heavily on my heart. The loss here isn’t just the pain of families who lost their children, but a shared grief felt by the whole community. Seeing images of the kindergarten teachers tearfully standing next to the remnants of the children’s lives—small cups, drawings, sandals—fills me with a profound sadness, reminding me of how fragile life is and how merciless natural disasters can be.

This tragedy highlights the urgent need to improve disaster warnings and support for infrastructure in vulnerable areas like Lào Cai. In mountainous regions, disaster prevention is often challenging due to difficult terrain and poor infrastructure. There needs to be more investment in safety measures, proper community planning, and training for residents, especially children, in how to respond to natural disasters.

However, the reality is that investing in infrastructure in remote areas requires significant resources, and sometimes even timely disaster response faces limitations due to harsh geographical conditions. I hope this story will inspire collective action from society, not just to help the affected families but also to build a safer future for communities that are vulnerable to natural disasters like Lào Cai.