VietNamNet Bridge – The Bac Lieu Province People’s Committee has officially announced that the erosion of two local sea embankment systems constitutes an emergency.

A section of Ganh Hao sea dyke damaged by high tides, huge waves and strong winds in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu.

The Ganh Hao in Dong Hai District and Nha Mat in Bac Lieu City sea embankment systems have become seriously eroded, and now threaten the safety of the local sea dyke, according to the decision signed on March 2 by Bac Lieu Province People’s Committee Chairman, Duong Thanh Trung.  

The announcement of the emergency was based on weather forecasts around sea and coastal areas, according to the decision.

The chairman said the province was in urgent need of VND250 billion (US$11.4 million) to repair dyke works affected by erosion at two embankment systems.   

Bac Lieu Province People’s Committee has asked two authorities of Dong Hai District and Bac Lieu City to issue warnings for erosion areas and prepare to move residents to safe areas.  

The chairman has asked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to immediately implement erosion belts, demarcation and signal areas.

The department will be responsible for removing local residents to safe areas, and implementing measures to prevent further erosion and protect sea dykes.

The Department of Information and Communications has been assigned to provide timely warnings, in order to help local residents actively avoid incidents.

Local police and army forces must be put on standby to support local authorities and residents in emergency situations.

The provincial People’s Committee also asks the department of transport and waterway management office to prevent vehicles moving within erosion areas.         

Warning about erosion at Nha Mat and Ganh Hao sea dykes were made by local authorities since January, the damage becoming serious, chairman Duong Thanh Trung said, and Ganh Hao was at high risk of collapse.

“Over 8,000 households in Ganh Hao Town are directly affected by erosion and tides,” Trung said.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported erosion at Ganh Hao sea embankment had total acreage of 870sq.m, with an eroded length of 90m, width of 10m and depth of 2.5m. Nha Mat embankment had an erosion length of 24m while many cracks and subsidence were reported along the rest of the embankment.

VNS