Increased risk of landslides at the beginning of the rainy season.

Heavy early-season rains combined with very low water levels in canals and ditches are increasing the risk of subsidence and landslides in many localities in Ca Mau province.

• Providing assistance to households whose property was damaged by landslides in Tan Thanh ward.
• Severe landslide at Dam Doi causes over 3 billion VND in damage.
• Urgently implement solutions to respond to landslides.
• Serious landslides have occurred on the road leading to Hung Thien Pagoda, threatening local residents' homes.

In recent days, the province has experienced widespread thunderstorms with rainfall amounts generally ranging from 30-80 mm. While this has helped to cool down the area after a series of intense heatwaves, these early-season rains have also brought with them growing concerns about land subsidence and landslides.

Early season rains increase the risk of landslides and land subsidence in riverside areas. (Photo taken of a landslide area in An Trach commune, November 2025)

According to the Ca Mau Meteorological and Hydrological Station, water levels in Sub-regions II and III and some communes such as Vinh Loc, Hong Dan, Ninh Quoi, Chau Thoi, Tri Phai, Tan Loc, etc., are very low. Meanwhile, forecasts indicate that from now until the end of May, thunderstorms will continue to increase locally in the communes of U Minh, Nguyen Phich, and Thoi Binh, with rainfall ranging from 150-250 mm. At the same time, the amount of water flowing from upstream into the Mekong Delta is also trending upwards, 30-50% higher than the multi-year average.

Assessing the impact, Mr. Trinh Xuan Hung, Deputy Director of the Ca Mau Meteorological and Hydrological Station, said: "This water helps to reduce salinity in freshwater areas, but it still poses a potential risk of landslides and subsidence."

For coastal communes, especially in the East Sea region, the combination of dry land and heavy early-season rains further increases the risk of landslides in communes such as Tan Thuan, Dam Doi, Nam Can, and Phan Ngoc Hien.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Hung further explained: "Localized rainfall occurring on dry, shrinking land will rapidly disrupt the soil structure. Rainwater seeps into cracks, increasing internal pressure, leading to rapid and unpredictable landslides and subsidence, especially along rivers, canals, and coastal areas."

The scene of the landslide that occurred in the early morning of April 24th in Dam Doi commune, with estimated damages exceeding 3 billion VND.

In addition to localized rainfall, heavy rains are likely to coincide with the high tide during the full moon of the fifth lunar month. This increases the risk of landslides and causes flooding in low-lying areas such as An Xuyen, Ly Van Lam, Tan Thanh, and Gia Rai wards.

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Mr. Trinh Xuan Hung advised: "Although the predicted high tide is not high, if it occurs simultaneously with heavy rain, it can still cause flooding. People, especially in vulnerable areas, need to closely monitor weather forecasts; households along rivers and canals must proactively plan for relocation when signs of subsidence or land cracks appear to ensure safety."

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In the central wards, many low-lying roads are often flooded whenever it rains in combination with high tides. (Illustrative photo, taken in 2025).

Given the complex weather developments, the Provincial Civil Defense Command has issued a plan to respond to heavy rain, tornadoes, lightning, flooding, and storm surges according to the natural disaster risk levels for 2026. Accordingly, the risk from heavy rain and tornadoes/lightning is determined at level 1; flooding and storm surges in the western coastal area could reach level 3.

The Meteorological and Hydrological Station advises residents along the riverbanks in Nam Can and Phan Ngoc Hien communes to proactively monitor weather developments and evacuate promptly if there is a risk of landslides.

The province is aggressively implementing the "four on-the-spot" principle, requiring departments, agencies, and localities to closely monitor weather developments, review vulnerable areas, proactively plan for relocating residents and protecting production and infrastructure, and at the same time prepare sufficient human resources, materials, and equipment to be ready to support people in effectively responding to the 2026 rainy and stormy season.

Hong Nghi - Minh Luan

Source: https://baocamau.vn/gia-tang-nguy-co-sat-lo-dat-dau-mua-mua-a128525.html