Viet Nam News ĐẮK LẮK – A small well dug in the middle of a coffee plantation has been the lifesaver for the beans in Đắk Lắk Province well-known for its year-round burning heat and severe droughts that can last for months. But locals say that too many times, the wells have resulted in tragic deaths. A poor but happy family of three in Ea Tu Commune has now shrunk to just one person: an elderly grandmother named Lê Thanh Hậu. On a hot sunny day, like many other days in this Central Highlands province, Hậu’s daughter Lê Thị Thu Hiền and her grandson Trần Trúc Bình were asked to come look after the coffee plantation of a neighbour for a little extra money, Hậu told theNhân Dân (People) newspaper. Looking to cool himself down after work, Bình sat by a half-covered, low edge well at the plantation. He slipped over into the well. The mother could barely scream for help before jumping into the well trying to save the boy. But she failed and lost her life, too. Such wells, with edges ranging between 20 and 30cm high, are very common in the area as the farmers wanted to reduce building expenses as much as possible, while paying little attention to safety. These wells have also led to perhaps the biggest regret in the life of farmer Lê Văn Hậu. He dug a low-edged well in his coffee plantation and left it uncovered for the sake of convenience. Hậu could… [Read full story]
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