'Straining' to cope with floods: Dikes "struggling" to prevent floods (Part 2)

After many years of “absence” of big floods, people in Dong Thap Muoi region have gradually become accustomed to producing 3 consecutive crops, despite the recommendations of the authorities. The flood of 2025 suddenly rose rapidly, causing hundreds of hectares of rice, fruit trees and crops to be submerged, many dikes “struggling” to withstand. The provincial authorities, local authorities and people “struggled” to respond, protect production and stabilize livelihoods in the upstream area.

Lesson 2: The dike "struggling" to prevent floods

In recent days, water levels on major rivers have continuously risen, putting pressure on many dikes protecting agricultural production.

Flood water in localities in Dong Thap Muoi region recedes quite slowly.

Many dikes are threatened.

Heavy rain combined with floodwaters from upstream have threatened a series of dykes in upstream communes (in the Dong Thap Muoi region) such as Tan Hung, Khanh Hung, Vinh Hung, Tan Thanh, and Moc Hoa. Thousands of acres of agricultural land are threatened, with the risk of losing the entire 2025 Fall-Winter crop.

Many dike sections are temporarily reinforced to protect production and people's lives.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, from the beginning of October 2025 until now, floodwaters from the upper reaches of the Vam Co Tay River have risen rapidly, inundating many canals and streams and putting great pressure on key dykes. Recorded in the fields of Khanh Hung commune, the water is still white after heavy rains combined with high tides. According to preliminary statistics, more than 157 hectares of people's rice fields were partially flooded, the water level in the fields rose 0.2-0.4m in some places.

In hamlets 1, 2, 3, Go Xoai, Thai Ky and Thai Quang, many rice fields are "struggling" in the sea of ​​water. People have to be on duty day and night, monitoring the water level, clearing drainage channels, and protecting each dike and each field.

In Roc Do Hamlet, where 520 hectares of rice are only 10-15 days away from harvest, the government and people have joined together to reinforce more than 5,750m of dike, raising the dike surface by 0.5-1m. Under the drizzling rain, each load of soil and sandbags is continuously transported to the dike - a tireless effort to preserve the approaching golden season.

Vice Chairman of Khanh Hung Commune People's Committee Nguyen Hoang Em said: Khanh Hung is the upstream locality of the Mekong River, located in the Dong Thap Muoi region, so every year it is directly affected by floods from upstream. Due to low terrain, many production areas of the commune are easily flooded during heavy floods, causing damage to agricultural production.

Recorded many damages

Motor vehicles are mobilized to the maximum to serve flood prevention and control work.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, as of October 28, 2025, the whole province recorded more than 820 hectares of rice, fruit trees and vegetables damaged by floods. Of which, more than 605 hectares of rice were damaged 100%, 22 hectares of rice were damaged 50-60%; more than 107 hectares of fruit trees were damaged 100%, 2.5 hectares of fruit trees were damaged 40-50% and 85.9 hectares of vegetables were completely lost.

In addition, there are currently 9,279 hectares of crops that are likely to be affected by floods and this damage figure may continue to increase rapidly as floodwaters continue to recede slowly, while extreme weather and climate conditions are changing abnormally. In Vinh Chau commune, Tay Ninh province, one of the localities with large rice growing areas in the province, water levels on canals and ditches are rising rapidly and exceeding the safety threshold. Although most of the area is located within closed dikes, floodwaters from outside are still rising, directly threatening many farmers' rice fields.

Chairman of Vinh Chau Commune People's Committee Nguyen Van Chi said: "This year's flood level is about 50cm higher than the peak flood in 2024, many sections of the dike have been overrun. The commune has issued a notice requiring water vehicles to reduce speed when moving on canals to limit water overflowing into the fields."

Currently, the commune has nearly 7,900 hectares of 10-50 day old rice, of which hundreds of hectares are threatened by floods. People have to mobilize means to reinforce and build up soil to raise the dike surface by 0.2-0.4m. However, if the water continues to rise, flood control will be very difficult.

In the communes of Vinh Thanh, Khanh Hung, Vinh Hung, Tuyen Binh,... hundreds of hectares of rice in the stage of heading and tillering are also surrounded by water. In many low-lying fields, the water outside the canal is 2-3m higher than the field surface, making drainage difficult./.

(to be continued)

Thanh Tung

Last article: Protecting dikes, preserving crops

Source: https://baolongan.vn/cang-minh-ung-pho-voi-lu-de-bao-oan-minh-ngan-lu-bai-2--a205421.html