Standing on the sandy strip in Trung Tan village (Ky Khang commune) at low tide, it's easy to see the traces of the fierce waves that have eroded deep into the land. Many sections of the coastline have been eroded by tens of meters, trees are left with bare roots, and the sand dunes that were once pine forests and peaceful residential areas now only exist in the memories of many people.
According to local residents, compared to a few decades ago, the sea has encroached hundreds of meters inland. Over the years, the waves have swept away many houses belonging to families such as the late Duyen, the late Thuyet, Mr. Tru, and Ms. Men... Many families have been forced to relocate further into the village or move to safer places.
The family of Mr. Nguyen Tat Ha (60 years old) is one of the households living close to the sea, frequently witnessing the harsh changes of nature.
Mr. Ha shared: "Previously, the distance from our house to the sea was hundreds of meters, but now the sea has encroached much closer. Some years, after just one storm, we lose dozens of meters of land. Many families have lost their homes, and we are always worried whenever we hear news of storms and strong winds."
Not far away, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dang (58 years old) was busy pulling his basket boat to a higher position, dozens of meters from the shore.
Mr. Dang said: “Before, we just needed to pull the boats onto the sand near the shore, but now we don't dare anymore. Just one night of big waves can sweep everything away. After each fishing trip, we have to bring our boats deep into the alley, sometimes even towing them all the way to our yards. Coastal erosion not only causes land loss but also directly affects the livelihoods of fishermen. Going out to sea is difficult, but returning to shore is even harder. When the rainy and stormy season comes, the worry of losing both our boats and our homes is ever-present.”
Previously, people in the coastal communes of the former Ky Anh district planted dozens of hectares of casuarina trees along the coast, creating a green belt that served as a "natural shield" against waves and wind. Thanks to this, erosion was controlled for a long time.
However, following extreme natural disasters, especially Typhoon No. 10 in 2017, a large portion of the casuarina forest that served as a wave barrier was destroyed.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Xuan, head of Trung Tan village, recalled: "That storm almost completely destroyed the mangrove forest that served as a wave barrier. In just a few days, the fruits of decades of hard work were almost wiped out. Since then, the sea has encroached further inland every year."
Erosion not only distorts the landscape but also brings about many socio -economic consequences. Many households live in constant anxiety, hesitant to invest in house repairs for fear of being relocated at any time. Large areas of coastal land are also subsiding, becoming saline, and unsuitable for cultivation, leading to a decline in people's income.
To mitigate erosion, before each rainy season, people have to mobilize soil, rocks, and construction materials to reinforce vulnerable sections of the riverbank. However, these temporary solutions are unlikely to withstand large waves.
The current situation of coastal erosion and land encroachment in Trung Tan village is alarming. Given the increasingly complex situation, local residents have repeatedly petitioned relevant authorities to prioritize investment in the construction of a seawall to protect their land and homes and stabilize their livelihoods.
Speaking to reporters, Nguyen Giang Dong, Vice Chairman of the Ky Khang Commune People's Committee, said: "Coastal erosion is an urgent problem. The locality has implemented some immediate solutions such as replanting casuarina forests and reinforcing vulnerable points, but these are only temporary measures. To solve the problem completely, a solid wave-breaking embankment system needs to be invested in. However, the cost is very high, exceeding the locality's capacity, so we urgently need attention and support from the province and the central government."
While awaiting seawall projects, restoring casuarina forests remains a crucial, long-term solution to gradually restore the coastal ecosystem and mitigate the impact of waves and wind. However, to be effective, more time, resources, and a coordinated approach are needed, combining the "soft" solution of reforestation with the "hard" solution of constructing breakwaters.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/noi-lo-bien-lan-sat-nha-dan-o-thon-trung-tan-post310029.html
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