"Mountain of garbage" blocks village road after flood.

The floodwaters have receded, but the waste remains. Along the lower reaches of the Lam River (Nghe An province), hundreds of tons of garbage from upstream have accumulated, getting stuck on roads and in residential areas, becoming a major concern regarding pollution and traffic safety after Typhoon No. 10.

Following the storm, many communes in the downstream area of ​​the Lam River are still unable to stabilize their lives due to large amounts of waste being swept away by floodwaters and left behind on roads, canals, and residential areas. This situation not only causes environmental pollution but also poses a potential traffic safety hazard, seriously affecting the lives of the people.

Trash is piled up haphazardly, obstructing traffic. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

In the days following the floodwaters receding, along the road leading to the former Hung Nhan commune, now Lam Thanh commune, piles of household waste, rotting trees, mud, and animal carcasses washed ashore by the water accumulated, emitting a strong, foul odor.

Mr. Hoa Xuan Thai, a resident of Chau Nhan 7 hamlet, Lam Thanh commune, recounted: “A few days ago, we discovered a large sack emitting a very strong odor. Later, the commune police came to inspect it and found out that inside were the carcasses of two calves that had been swept away by the water. The villagers had to bury them to prevent pollution.”

According to observations by reporters from the provincial newspaper and radio and television, the garbage piled up to nearly 2 meters high in some sections. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

In Chau Nhan 7 hamlet, garbage is collected right in the middle of the main road leading into the residential area, with some sections reaching nearly 2 meters high and stretching for hundreds of meters, occupying almost half the road surface and causing significant difficulties for traffic. This is due to a drainage ditch blocking the road, causing the garbage to get stuck there.

Mr. Nguyen Duong Bao, a resident living near the area, said: “After the floodwaters receded, a lot of garbage was left behind, completely blocking the road. The commune authorities had to mobilize bulldozers to clear the road, but because the amount of garbage was so large, they had to temporarily pile it up on the roadside. The garbage piles even contained carcasses of pigs and chickens… under the sun, the stench was overwhelming, and flies swarmed everywhere. People's travel was very difficult, especially during school dismissal time; it was extremely dangerous for students passing through this section if they encountered cars.”

The garbage emits a strong odor, seriously affecting the environment. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Not only does it obstruct traffic, the accumulated garbage on a main road in Chau Nhan 8 hamlet significantly affects the movement of residents. More worryingly, this situation poses a potential risk of disease outbreaks.

Many households living near the garbage collection area have to keep their doors and windows closed all day to avoid the foul smell and dust. Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, a resident of the neighborhood, shared: "My grandchild has been coughing and having a runny nose for the past few days because of the dust and smell of the garbage. I hope the authorities will soon take measures to collect it, because leaving it like this for too long is both unsanitary and affects the health of the people."

Trash is scattered all over some of the streets. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Mr. Nguyen Truong Thi, Secretary of the Party Committee of Lam Thanh commune, said: “Immediately after the floodwaters receded, the commune mobilized militia forces, youth union members, and local people to participate in cleaning up many roads. However, due to the enormous amount of garbage and the lack of specialized vehicles to collect it all, the cleanup work still faces many difficulties, especially in low-lying hamlets such as the former Hung Nhan commune area, where garbage accumulates in large quantities. Currently, the commune is deploying forces to gradually collect garbage in each area.”

The road in Chau Nhan 8 hamlet is covered in mud and garbage, making it impossible for residents to travel through the area. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

The recent Typhoon No. 10 caused prolonged heavy rain, resulting in severe flooding in many downstream communes of the Lam River, with water levels ranging from 0.5 to nearly 2 meters. After the water receded, in addition to damage to crops and property, the enormous amount of accumulated waste is becoming a major concern for the residents.

Environmental experts warn that if post-flood waste collection is delayed, it can pollute water sources, creating conditions for the outbreak of diseases such as dengue fever, diarrhea, and respiratory infections. Therefore, prompt coordination between local authorities and relevant agencies is needed to address the issue thoroughly.

Residents hope the authorities will soon provide support with vehicles and arrange suitable collection points to prevent garbage from piling up in the middle of the road, obstructing traffic and causing prolonged pollution after the floods.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/nui-rac-chan-duong-lang-sau-lu-10308177.html