In a remarkable event, a drone successfully rescued a man from dangerous floodwaters in Vietnam’s Dak Lak province. The man, identified as farm worker Nguyen Van Hat, found himself stranded on an island as the waters rapidly rose around him.
Video footage captured the drone hovering above the turbulent floodwaters on Friday morning, lowering a life buoy to assist the 49-year-old Nguyen in his struggle to hold on. Despite facing the powerful current, the drone persisted in its efforts to extract Nguyen from the river, at times teetering dangerously close to the water.
Ultimately, Nguyen was safely airlifted across the river to solid ground by the drone, ending his ordeal on the isolated island where he had become trapped while working on a sandbar.
Local rescuers, including another farmer who brought the drone into action, collaborated to secure Nguyen’s rescue. The authorities, aware of Nguyen’s situation on the island, deployed the drone to ensure his safe return as the river’s water levels continued to rise.
The incident occurred amidst severe flooding in Vietnam, with reports indicating 90 casualties and 12 individuals still missing. The country experienced heavy rainfall in late October, leading to widespread flooding and landslides, particularly affecting coastal and highland regions.
In Dak Lak province, a 61-year-old farmer recounted how he and his wife were marooned on their metal roof for two nights as floodwaters engulfed their neighborhood, leaving nothing but destruction and mud in its wake. Despite ongoing challenges, officials reported that four areas in the province remained inundated with floodwaters as of the latest update.