Heavy rains and climate change in recent times have made landslides difficult to control, said the HCMC government.

A man rests on a hammock by a river which has been hit by landslides in Nha Be District, HCMC 

The municipal government has asked localities to evacuate people living in areas prone to landslides to ensure their safety.

The districts most seriously affected by landslides in the city include Can Gio, Nha Be, Binh Thanh, Thu Duc, Hoc Mon, 9 and 12. The city currently has 40 riverside areas vulnerable to landslides and the number is still continuing to increase.

Most recently, a landslide occurred along the Rach Giong – Kinh Lo River in Hiep Phuoc Ward, Nha Be District on June 27, with five houses sunk into water. A serious landslide has also occurred recently on Ben Binh Dong Street in District 8, prompting the city’s Urban Civil Works Construction Investment Management Authority to start building an embankment that is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2018.

The city also has plans to build embankments to prevent landslides in areas near Giong Ong To Bridge in District 2.

Although the city has spent huge sums on numerous projects for natural disaster control, impacts of natural disasters on the city have become worse due to rapid urbanization.

Moreover, illegal sand exploitation has changed water flows and weakened river banks, while rubbish thrown onto rivers blocks water flows and affect water drainage.

Authorities of Nha Be District have evacuated 270 families with 975 people who live in regions at risk of landslides on the banks of some rivers and canals like Kinh, Can Giuoc, Cay Kho and Lo.

Five to seven years ago, residential areas accounted for only 20% of the district’s natural area, but the number is 40% as vast areas of farming land and marshes that are natural venues for water storage have been leveled for houses and industrial zones.

The city has plans to construct an embankment system and six sluices to control flood tides. In addition, phase one of a major flood tide control project is under way and expected to be finished in 2018. The VND10-trillion (over US$440 million) project will help protect an area of about 570 square kilometers with 6.5 million people from floods.

SGT