VietNamNet Bridge – Many cracks have mysteriously developed and widened on the ground over the past week in Lam Dong Province's Di Linh Town, sending its residents into panic and prompting district authorities to consider a worst-case evacuation plan.

Along the town's Nguyen Van Troi Street, many cracks have extended from the street to coffee farms and into houses, ripping their walls.

Residents say the cracks began appearing around a week ago, and have widened since. At least 20 houses in the town have been affected, one ripped to the point of collapse last Sunday. Fortunately, all residents and property were already removed before it happened.

The cracks first appeared on the floor around four days ago and later spread to the walls, said Nguyen Thi Hue, owner of the collapsed house.

"When I first saw them, I assumed that my house was so old it was developing cracks, but when I found out later that similar cracks had appeared in my neighbours' homes as well, I really panicked."

Vo Minh, one of Hue's neighbours, has had his house badly ripped by cracks that have widened to five centimetres in width over the last week.

"I did not hear any sound when the cracks developed, but they have continue to spread and widen. I've lived here for many years but have never seen anything like this," he said.

Photos: VNN

"We have persuaded some families to move out of cracked houses," he said, adding that the district was preparing an evacuation plan for a worst-case scenario.

According to Luong Van Ngu, deputy director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, it is very likely that the rapid loss of ground water is to blame for the situation.

He said a team of geologists has already arrived in the town to investigate the phenomenon.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News