A large crack has appeared in National Highway 217 in the central Thanh Hoa Province’s Muon Min Commune, forcing households living nearby to shift to ensure their safety.

A large crack has appeared in National Highway 217.

Quan Son District’s people’s committee said due to prolonged heavy rain, a crack measuring nearly 200m long and 2m deep appeared in a road of Mìn Village.

Three households had been forced to evacuate to safer places as their houses are facing a risk of collapse, the authority reported.

The committee said it had installed a warning sign on the road and mobilised officials to be on duty to monitor any changes in the crack. 

If heavy rain occurred in the next few days, the crack would widen, threatening the lives of those who lived along the highway, the committee said.

The 90km National Highway 217, connecting Dong Tam intersection in the central Thanh Hoa Province with Na Meo border gate at the Vietnam-Laos border, was opened on January 30.

The road, along with routes 6, 6A and 6B of Laos’ Houaphan Province, links north-east Laos with northern Vietnam. 

It is an important route as it will maximise the economic potential brought about by the GMS Northeastern Corridor and will help those in the northern provinces in Laos to easily access Nghi Son Port. 

VNS