Many landslides and subsidence points at the construction area of the irrigation reservoir in Lam Dong

Dong Thanh reservoir in Lam Ha district, Lam Dong province. Photo: *Xuan Ngoc.*

In recent days, people have been restless as the Dong Thanh reservoir project (Dong Thanh commune, Lam Ha district) under construction has many subsidence points. Some areas have been eroded, threatening the safety of residential areas. According to records, the cracks are 5-10cm wide, extending to residential areas.

People's houses and gardens near the irrigation lake have subsided and cracked. Photo: *Xuan Ngoc.*

Hundreds of meters of flood-avoiding roads are also at risk of collapsing. Some nearby houses have cracked walls and concrete yards have also sunk after heavy rains.

In particular, Mr. Nguyen Van Thang (Dong Thanh commune) cited that the front yard of his house collapsed about 1 meter, and many blocks of land behind his house also collapsed close to the wall of the house. The cracks spread further, causing him and those around him to live in insecurity.

The front yard of Mr. Thang's house collapsed, many blocks of soil also collapsed close to the house wall. Photo: *Xuan Ngoc.*

The ground is sinking, at risk of landslides. Photo: *Xuan Ngoc.*

According to Lam Ha District People's Committee, the above subsidence and landslides have affected 9 households with more than 5.3 hectares of agricultural land. Of these, 5 households are directly affected (4 households have houses, one household does not have a house), 4 other households are at risk of being affected due to widespread cracks and 500m of flood-avoiding roads are at risk of subsidence and landslides.

The District People's Committee has directed units to evacuate 4 households whose houses were affected to a safe place and at the same time, count the assets and damages of some households to have a support plan (if any).

Residential road through the damaged reservoir area. Photo: *Xuan Ngoc.*

In response to this incident, the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to preside over and coordinate with departments, branches and localities to urgently organize inspections and determine the causes of landslides and land subsidence near the construction area of the main works cluster of the Dong Thanh reservoir construction project in Lam Ha district.

Lam Dong province also directed the People's Committee of Lam Ha district to warn and limit impacts on landslide areas, regularly monitor the situation to have appropriate preventive solutions, ensuring the safety of people and property of neighboring works.

Authorities put up signs and ropes in landslide and subsidence areas to warn people. Photo: *Xuan Ngoc.*

The Dong Thanh reservoir project has a total investment of over VND494 billion, is a level 2 project, and has a basin area of 11 square kilometers. With a reservoir area of over 3 million m3, the reservoir is expected to provide irrigation water for over 7,500 households in the area.

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