Making a living in landslide-prone areas

Despite the ever-present threat of landslides, many households in Ba Be commune remain, clinging to their land to cultivate crops, raise livestock, and maintain their livelihoods. The long cracks and widening landslide areas pose significant dangers to their lives, but abandoning their land and homes is a difficult decision.

The house of Ms. Ly Thi Sat's family in Na Co village, Ba Be commune, is at risk of collapsing.

A large landslide cuts across the Quang Khe - Khang Ninh road, then extends deep into the residential area of ​​Na Co village. Right in front of Ms. Ly Thi Sat's house, deep cracks have appeared, and groundwater leakage is causing the soil foundation to weaken further.

The sturdy house, which she built just over a year ago at a cost of more than 600 million VND, is now abandoned.

Related to this landslide, three more houses were also severely affected. Residents at the foot of the mountain live in constant fear of landslides at any moment.

Ms. Ly Thi Sat said: "This landslide is very large and extends for a long distance. My house has been here for over 20 years, and I've never seen a landslide like this year. Not only Na Co but also the villages of Na Lieng and Khuoi Luong further upstream are experiencing cracks and landslides."

Many households live below the landslide-prone area in Khuoi Luong.

About 2km from Na Co, Khuoi Luong village also lies at the foot of a large landslide. Here, rocks and soil have caused a fault in provincial road 257B and the Quang Khe - Khang Ninh road section. The landslide formed during Typhoon Yagi in 2024 and continues to expand to this day.

Local authorities relocated 27 households to temporary housing, but due to their livelihoods, they still return to their old area during the day to raise livestock and produce crops. "People are afraid, so they stay in the shelters at night when it rains, but they still have to come back during the day to feed their chickens and pigs. When it's sunny, some people sleep in their houses; they know it's dangerous, but they can't do it," said Mr. Ban Van Dat, head of Khuoi Luong village.

Viewed from above, the cracks in the Na Co - Khuoi Luong area are widening, posing a constant risk of landslides. Yet, right below, many households remain, farming and living there out of reluctance to waste their time and resources. Many of these households have recently invested in and built new houses, where they even live overnight. The hope of many residents in this area is for the government to complete the resettlement area soon and provide additional livelihood support once they permanently move to their new homes.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202511/muu-sinh-trong-vung-sat-lo-dee5d31/