Da Nang: Need sustainable solutions to protect An Luong embankment, Duy Nghia commune

DNO - In recent days, prolonged heavy rain combined with high tides and water from upstream have caused serious landslides at An Luong fishing wharf (Duy Nghia commune, Da Nang city).

More than 500 households with 1,200 people in An Luong and Thuan An villages were affected by the floods, affecting their daily lives and safety. In this situation, the government and armed forces urgently coordinated with the people to rescue and reinforce each broken embankment section.

Panoramic view of An Luong embankment severely eroded due to heavy rain and floods. Photo: NGUYEN TOAN

Overnight rescue

On the afternoon of October 29, high tides combined with prolonged heavy rains caused the Thu Bon River to flow strongly downstream. At An Luong fishing port, Duy Nghia commune, the whirlpool hit the shore, many sections of the embankment cracked, rocks and soil collapsed, creating a deep frog's jaw. In a few hours, the landslide spread rapidly for nearly 2km, in some places only a few dozen meters from residential areas.

Faced with the critical situation, Duy Nghia commune authorities immediately mobilized all local forces, coordinated with Infantry Division 315 (Military Region 5), police, militia and people to organize emergency rescue in harsh weather conditions.

Lieutenant Colonel Vo Duc Cuong, Deputy Division Commander and Chief of Staff of the 315th Infantry Division, said that the unit received information from local authorities on the afternoon of October 28 and immediately mobilized forces to approach the scene of the landslide on the An Luong embankment.

"When approaching, we recorded two main landslides, but by dawn the next day, many more cracks appeared along the route. To respond promptly, the Division mobilized 450 officers and soldiers to coordinate with local authorities to build sandbags, reinforce embankments and support the evacuation of people from dangerous areas. The work took place continuously throughout the night, both urgent and ensuring absolute safety," said Senior Colonel Vo Duc Cuong.

The leaders of the 315th Infantry Division are on duty 24/7 to directly command the support forces to reinforce the embankment. Photo: PHAN VINH

Amidst heavy rain and strong winds, thousands of sandbags were delivered along the embankment. Soldiers, militiamen and people worked together to reinforce each section of the embankment, inserting rocks, driving stakes, and arranging bags in the direction of the water flow. Flashlights and car lights shone brightly in the rain, shouts were passed around and the sound of water lapping against the shore was heard.

Mr. Pham Phuc (70 years old, An Luong village) - who has been on duty continuously for the past 3 days said: "I have lived here for decades, I have experienced every flood, but this year was so fierce. Hearing the sound of the dike collapsing made me shiver. Everyone in the village came out to help, some scooped sand, some carried bags, working all night. Thanks to the soldiers arriving in time, otherwise the dike would have been swept away."

Soldiers of the 315th Infantry Division, together with local people and authorities of Duy Nghia commune, made efforts to reinforce the eroded embankment. Photo: NGUYEN TOAN

With great effort and determination, by the early morning of October 31, the main landslide points were temporarily reinforced, helping to reduce the flow pressure and stabilize the residential areas inside. However, the foot of the embankment in many places is still deeply eroded, the ground is weak, and there is a risk of further subsidence when the tide rises.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Vo Duc Cuong, Military Region 5 has directed 300 officers and soldiers to be on duty at the scene, coordinate with the commune government and people to monitor developments, and promptly reinforce if new landslides appear.

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The work cannot stop yet, because the situation is still complicated. We are determined to stick to the area, and work with the people to protect the embankment until it is truly safe.

Lieutenant Colonel Vo Duc Cuong, Deputy Division Commander, Chief of Staff of Infantry Division 315 (Military Region 5)

Long-term solutions to ensure safety

According to Mr. Pham Duoc, Chairman of Duy Nghia Commune People's Committee, An Luong embankment was formed after the negative impacts of the historic flood in 1999, when many households along the river had their houses swept away and their production land seriously eroded.

After a long period of mobilization and preparation, the project was started in 2006 and completed in February 2008 with a length of 1.1km, with the task of protecting more than 500 households with more than 1,200 people in two villages An Luong and Thuan An.

"After more than 15 years of use, the embankment structure has deteriorated. Many sections of the foot have been deeply eroded, the embankment surface has cracked and peeled off. Every rainy season, the locality mobilizes forces to reinforce it with sandbags and boulders, but resources are limited so it is only temporary. This year's flood was so big that many weak sections could not withstand the water pressure," said Mr. Duoc.

The area from An Luong fishing port to Thuan An is the most affected section. The strong current and narrow riverbed cause water to directly hit the foot of the embankment, causing the roof to collapse and washing away the ground.

People pray for peace in An Luong village. Photo: PHAN VINH

Mr. Ngo Van Hai, Head of An Luong village, said that this section has more than 60 households located close to the riverbank. Every rainy season, they have to move their belongings and build temporary fences to protect their houses.

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Every time we hear the sound of waves crashing against the embankment, we get worried. We hope to see investment in building a new, more solid embankment so that people can live in peace and not have to worry about flooding every year.

Mr. Ngo Van Hai, Head of An Luong village, Duy Nghia commune

The embankment not only keeps the residential area safe but is also a "reservoir wall" protecting the fishing port - where hundreds of boats are anchored and is the main seafood trading point of the lower Thu Bon River.

When the embankment collapsed, all activities of anchoring, loading and unloading and transporting seafood were suspended, directly affecting people's income.

Faced with that situation, Duy Nghia commune authorities sent a petition to the City People's Committee and relevant departments and branches, proposing to invest in the second phase of the An Luong - Thuan An embankment, expanding the total length to 2.2km, to ensure long-term safety for residential areas and production areas along the river.

An Luong embankment protects more than 500 households in Duy Nghia commune. Photo: NGUYEN TOAN

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This is an urgent project, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of people living in the estuary. The locality hopes that the city will soon pay attention and allocate capital to build a solid construction, ending the situation of having to patch up and temporarily reinforce every year.

Mr. Pham Duoc, Chairman of Duy Nghia Commune People's Committee

Stabilize embankments and protect people's lives

During a field inspection of the landslide situation at An Luong embankment on October 30, Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu emphasized: "Governments at all levels and functional agencies need to urgently deploy urgent measures to temporarily handle the situation, while studying fundamental and long-term solutions to stabilize the embankment and protect people's lives."

[ VIDEO ] - Need sustainable solutions to protect An Luong embankment, Duy Nghia commune:

Source: https://baodanang.vn/da-nang-can-giai-phap-ben-vung-bao-ve-ke-an-luong-xa-duy-nghia-3308820.html