According to Yen Bai Province's statistics, following Typhoon No. 3 in September 2024, more than 1,000 households in Yen Bai City experienced talus landslides, leaving over 1 million cubic meters of soil and rocks to be cleared.

To ensure residents’ safety and stability, Yen Bai City authorities allowed local villages and neighborhoods to take proactive measures to stabilize landslides, clear debris, and safeguard lives and property.

Since late September, excavation and transportation activities have contributed to environmental dust pollution, exacerbated by soil and rocks falling onto roads during transport.

Heavy dust impacts residential areas

On December 10, VietNamNet observed significant cleanup operations in Nguyen Thai Hoc and Yen Ninh Wards of Yen Bai City. Numerous trucks moved soil and rocks from landslide-prone areas to designated dumping sites, creating dusty conditions on sunny days and slippery, muddy roads during rainy weather.

Nguyen Thi Chinh, a 60-year-old resident of Nguyen Thai Hoc Ward, shared her concerns: “There’s a talus cleanup site right across from my house, and every day, dozens of trucks pass through Le Hong Phong Street, raising clouds of dust. While the work is necessary, I hope the cleanup finishes soon so we can return to a clean and peaceful life.”

In response to public concerns, Bui Ngoc Giang, Chairman of Nguyen Thai Hoc Ward People’s Committee, explained that 24 talus cleanup sites were identified after Typhoon No. 3, with four currently under construction.

He added: “We have required households and contractors to ensure traffic safety and cover trucks transporting soil and rocks. While dust pollution is unavoidable, we’ve asked residents to cooperate and tolerate the temporary inconvenience until the cleanup is complete.”

To prepare for the upcoming Tet holiday (Lunar New Year 2025), the Yen Bai City People’s Committee has ordered the completion of talus repairs and debris cleanup by December 31, 2024. Additionally, contractors must clean up construction sites and restore surrounding infrastructure to its original condition.

City-wide cleanup efforts underway

On December 17, Nguyen Ngoc Truc, Chairman of the Yen Bai City People’s Committee, confirmed that all landslide remediation activities would conclude by the end of the year.

“Immediately afterward, the city will launch a comprehensive cleanup campaign to prepare for a clean, festive environment for the upcoming Tet holiday,” Mr. Truc emphasized.

To minimize accidents and traffic congestion caused by trucks transporting soil, traffic inspectors have ramped up patrols and enforcement on key roads. Contractors have also been instructed to avoid transporting soil during peak hours:

Morning: 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Noon: 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Evening: 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Despite proactive measures, the large-scale transportation of soil and rocks since late September has caused significant dust accumulation and road pollution, with debris frequently spilling onto streets. The aftermath of Typhoon No. 3 left over 1 million cubic meters of soil to be managed, necessitating urgent but disruptive cleanup efforts across Yen Bai City.