VietNamNet Bridge - The central coastal region is facing more and more landslides, with many villages in danger of disappearing, though hundreds of billions of dong from the state budget have been used to save them. 


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The central coastal region is facing gradual landslides



Bamboo stakes were piled, sandbags were laden, and solid concrete embankments were built, but these did not improve the situation. Many dyke sections have been broken by sea waves.

Becoming homeless 

The sea village of Thanh Minh in Quang Vinh commune in Sam Son City has been struggling to survive for many years. Casuarina trees have been hit by waves, while walls have fallen down.

Le Thi Thuong in Thanh Minh village said that 10 years ago the village was located 300-400m far from today’s coast. However, the sea has been ‘eating’ into the village. 

The landslides are getting worse because of sand exploitation. “They (sand exploiters) brought vessels and lighters last year, and carried sand away with trucks,” she said.

The villagers threatened the illegal sand miners with murder weapons, and they retreated. However, locals have heard that the miners are planning to return.

Pointing to the sea, Nguyen Thi Hiep, 69, of Cat Khanh commune in Binh Dinh province, complained that the sea has taken away beautiful sand dunes and beaches.

“My village was in the middle of the poplar forest. But the sea is now eating into it,” she said.

The central coastal region is facing more and more landslides, with many villages in danger of disappearing, though hundreds of billions of dong from the state budget have been used to save them. 

Nguyen Minh Man from Khe Tan hamlet said he has been living in fear as sea waves may sweep his house away at any time.

During storm No 12 late last year, high tides attacked the Cua Dai area which is between Nghia An and Tinh Khe communes. 

The efforts to save villages and houses were just ‘grains of salt in the sea’. More than 1,000m of coastline continue to erode, 300 meters into the village.

In Quang Binh province, local newspapers reported that gradual erosion underneath the Ly Hoa dyke, which was put into use in 2015, has resulted in a large crack on the concrete surface of the dyke.

A report from the Quang Tri Irrigation Sub-department said that serious landslides are occurring on 6 kilometers of coastline. 

Landslides have appeared in Vinh Thanh commune. The severe erosion has put Cua Tung beach at risk of being wiped out.


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