Volunteers assist tornado-hit gold shop to retrieve misplaced jewelry

Before Storm Noru made landfall Wednesday, an unexpected tornado wrecked the roof of Phuoc Thinh gold shop and blew away two glass jewelry cabinets Tuesday.

“I didn’t have time to put away the jewelry in the safe. I thought I had lost everything,” Hoang Tien, the business owner, sighed.

After hearing the news, some residents of Cua Viet Town went on social media to rally support and helped Tien recover his belongings.

Dozens of others spread out to assist in the search for the misplaced jewels and gave them back to the owner.

“I’ve not determined the exact value of missing jewelry, but the amount of gold that has been recovered is substantial.

“I was moved to tears seeing everyone help me out despite the bad weather conditions. I couldn’t thank them enough,” he added.

Residents of Quang Tri Province’s Cua Viet Town help Tien search for missing jewelry on Sept. 27, 2022. Photo acquired by VnExpress

When a tornado suddenly struck Tien’s shop, he attempted to grasp the jewelry cabinet but failed as glass fragments sliced into his hand, requiring stitches.

“I was anticipating the storm to arrive at midnight and was caught off guard when a tornado suddenly passed through. I am just happy to be able to find some of the missing jewelry.”

He continued searching for the missing jewels Wednesday morning.

Some of the missing jewelry found by residents on Sept. 27, 2022. Photo acquired by VnExpress

Gio Linh District People’s Committee Chairman Vo Dac Hoa confirmed to VnExpress that a tornado with heavy rain rushed through Cua Viet Town on Tuesday afternoon, destroying the Phuoc Thinh gold shop and blowing away its jewelry.

“The search had to be called off due to the bad weather. As of this morning, the total value of misplaced jewelry had not been determined,” Hoa said.

He also noted that the tornado did significant damage to many other households in the town.