Typhoon in Huê

Our hearts stayed in our throats the past few days.  We watched the weather reports from Asia and learned a major typhoon decimated Manila in the Philippines, then took aim at Việt Nam.  It hit south of Huê in the larger city of Da Nang where there was wide spread damage and death.  We emailed our many friends  to see if they were okay, and heard back that Huê suffered a lot of downed trees and flooding.  That means our friend Cu’s Mandarin Café would be flooded as it is near the river.

I hope my friend and fellow blogger Tuan is not irritated, but here are two pictures he took after the storm.  The new Imperial Hotel can be seen past the dangling traffic light.  The other scene was taken in front of Tuan’s home – you can see the main street of Hùng Vương in the background, and the Cao Dai temple.  His home is not near the river, so it appears his neighborhood was spared major damage.  Another friend and blogger, Lam Anh,  posted that he was okay – and waxed a bit philosophical.

Another friend sent this picture of the Perfume River, taken from the "New Bridge" looking towards the old Trương Tiền bridge.  Notice the water is almost to the bottom of the bridge.  Thanx, Marc.

However – we also learned that  one of the Mystery Guest Blogger’s students and good friend lost the roof from her home.  The house was seen in the story I did on her grandmother’s funeral.  Our prayers go out to Vi and her family.

Half a world away, yet such a strong tug on our hearts.

Comments

[Tom Murray]

Your pictures, as always, tell the story. The bridge picture is amazing.

Some of you know that I've incorporated a 501(C)(3) charitable, tax-deductible foundation to help the very poorest kids in Viet Nam. If USA readers of this blog want to help our friends in Hue the foundation Think About the Children will be sending funds. Send checks to Think About the Children
PO Box 386 Charleston, SC 29402.

It is estimated on some sites that up to 1,400 schools between Da Nang and Hoi An have lost the roof and the classrooms are unusable. All funds collected from this blog and my efforts at The College of Charleston will be used to help Doug and Cindy's students and friends.

Tom Murray

[Jimmy]

Seriously.