Urgent measures are needed to overcome landslides on the right bank of Thao River.

Due to the impact of Typhoon No. 3 and prolonged heavy rains in recent days, the Thao River has been flooded, causing damage to property and crops of many households in Bac Son commune, Tam Nong district. Particularly serious, the rising river water has caused erosion of the riverbanks in area 18, threatening the property and lives of residents.

Landslide location at zone 18, Bac Son commune, Tam Nong district

At the landslide site, it is easy to observe a sliding surface up to 50m, a 35m section of fence collapsing, and landslides extending approximately 3.5m into the land of one household and Vuc Long Pagoda.

Leading us to the area deeply affected by the floodwaters, Mr. Le Ngoc Minh, representing the directly impacted households, said: “Currently, my whole family is very worried and anxious because the landslide is less than 10 meters from our house. If no timely measures are taken, the landslide will encroach further into our land, threatening the lives and property of my family.”

On the side of Vuc Long Pagoda, the landslide was close to the pagoda yard, causing many long cracks, up to 70cm deep, to appear on the yard, very dangerous.

Commune cadastral officers measure the depth of cracks in the yard of Vuc Long pagoda.

According to our research, Bac Son commune was formed by merging the former communes of Xuan Quang, Huong Nha, and Vuc Truong. Since 2009, as the flood situation in the area became increasingly complex, the province invested in building embankments at several locations with a high risk of landslides in the three communes. However, due to limited resources, the province prioritized addressing areas that posed a direct threat to the safety of residents and dike structures.

According to the report, as of the end of 2023, there were three locations in Bac Son commune experiencing landslides: Zone 1 (formerly Xuan Quang commune), Zone 10 (formerly Huong Nha commune), and Zone 18 (formerly Zones 1, 2, and 3 of Vuc Truong commune). In Zone 1, the province invested in an emergency embankment of approximately 700 meters in 2018. However, in 2022, due to a change in the main river channel, about two-thirds of the embankment subsided and washed away into the river. In May 2024, after a site inspection, the province once again approved a 300-meter stone embankment and a 50-meter slope-paved embankment along the riverbank in this area.

Officials and people take turns being on duty at the landslide site to have timely response measures.

Meanwhile, nearly 700 meters of riverbank in Zone 10 and nearly 800 meters of riverbank in Zone 18 have yet to be reinforced with stone revetments or slope-paved revetments, despite repeated requests and proposals from the commune during voter consultations and reports sent to higher authorities, due to a lack of allocated funds.

When Typhoon No. 3 and its aftermath caused flooding on the Thao River in recent days, riverbank erosion reappeared in all three locations. In particular, 220 meters of embankment collapsed in Zone 1, affecting 5 households, 2 of which had to be relocated; Zone 18 suffered serious erosion as mentioned above.

Comrade Phan Kim Trong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Son commune, said: "Immediately upon receiving reports from residents in area 18, the commune's Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Command Board and the People's Committee of the commune went down to inspect and verify the situation and reported to the district's Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Command Board; at the same time, they cordoned off the area and posted warning signs, strictly prohibiting people from approaching the area. In addition, the commune organized three rotating shifts on duty 24/7 at the commune's People's Committee and the two landslide locations to ensure the safety of people's lives and property."

According to Comrade Phan Kim Trong, the People's Committee of the commune has also submitted a report to the People's Committee of the district, requesting the urgent construction of embankments at two locations where the riverbanks have eroded: in Zone 1 with a length of 200m and in Zone 18 with a length of 300m; and hoping that the People's Committee of the district and the District Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue will study and propose to the province to consider implementing embankment construction on the entire riverbanks in Zone 10 and Zone 18, or to take thorough remedial measures so that people can live and work in peace.

Phuong Thuy - Bao Thoa

Source: https://baophutho.vn/can-khan-truong-co-cac-bien-phap-khac-phuc-sat-lo-bo-huu-song-thao-219341.htm