Another landslide site in La Van Thuong Village. (Photo: VNA)Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) - The lives and crops ofresidents living near the Bo River bank in central Thua Thien-Hue province arebeing threatened by riverbank landslides.
Landslides have occurred along the riverbankdike section in the province’s Quang Dien district, threatening 1,000ha of landin the villages of Tan Xuan Lai, La Van Thuong, Niem Pho and Phuoc Yen in QuangTho commune.
Tran Phu Hien, a resident in Niem Pho villagesaid landslides had been a problem since some four years ago but the situationdeteriorated after floods in November last year.
“The landslide site is expanding day by day,worrying nearby locals,” he said. A report by authorities in Quang Tho communesaid the landslides happened across 900m of the riverbank.
Hoang Cong Phong, Chairman of Quang Tho commune's People's Committee, saidlandslides had reduced growing area for Gotu Kola, a plant locals grow. Phongsaid the commune had reported the situation to higher authorities and usedbamboo poles to reinforce the riverbank.
In nearby Quang Phu commune, the dike systemthat helps stop floodwater entering the villages of Pho Nam, NhoLam, NamPhu and Nghia Lo collapsed on a total length of 1km.
Caves appeared at several places on the earthendike’s foot, cracking the concrete road that serves as the main route acrossthe villages.
Nguyen Quang Quy, a resident in Pho Nam villagesaid the dike will collapse totally if nothing is done. “I’m sure that my houseand many others in the village will be washed away in the next flood if thedike collapses,” he said.
Residents living near the collapsed section saidall they could do was erect warning poles to keep locals safe while commuting.
The Bo, the province’s second biggest river,originates from Laosborder and runs across the districts of Phong Dien, Quang Dien and Huong Tra beforeit meets the ocean. The river section in Quang Dien has many curves, making thedistrict vulnerable to riverbank landslides and strong currents during floods.-VNA
