An Giang has been one of the hardest hit provinces in the region with 42 areas affected. Tens of kilometres of river banks have collapsed. In Tan Chau District, about one hectare of land along Hau River was struck by landslides.

The landslides have stretched 20 metres inland, forcing local authorities to quickly evacuate tens of households from affected areas.

In several river sections in Cho Moi District, An Giang Province, landslides following torrential rains in the last few days have threatened human lives and property.

Local weather officials predict that rising floodwater in the coming days may cause sudden landslides in Cho Moi District. River sections spanning five kilometres in length may break oft, leading to the collapse of 140 houses and ten fish rafts.

In Dong Thap Province, landslides affected 162km of riverbanks. Local officials plan to evacuate 800 of the 4,200 households from these areas.

Do Vu Hung, deputy director of An Giang Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said when floodwater rises, landslides increase rapidly.

The only solution to the natural disaster is to fortify river banks and field embankments with spikes and bamboo, which the State budget cannot afford.

Localities have undertaken small preventive measures themselves, but how much has been done has depended on the mobilisation of capital from the central government, local authorities, private companies and individuals.

Too much digging
Hung attributed the increasing landslides in the Mekong region over the last few months to farmers digging too many fish ponds along river banks.

Rising floodwaters have eroded banks along fish ponds in Tien and Hau Rivers, collapsing several hectares of lands into the water.

In an effort to prevent illegal digging for fish breeding that could trigger more landslides, the Agriculture and Rural Development Office of Chau Thanh District, Tien Giang Province, plans to mete out severe punishments to violators.

(Source: Viet Nam News)