Admitting that bad state management was a reason behind water drainage congestion that led to the flooding, local authorities have applied measures to settle the problem.

The leaders of the island have dredged the Ong Tri Canal which local people have encroached upon.

Alongside with the clearing of the canals, Phu Quoc plans to upgrade the infrastructure of water supply and drainage systems; map flooded areas; and draw up the 1/500 planning map in Duong Dong, An Thoi and Cua Can urban areas to clearly identify the drainage system for climate change adaption.

The Kien Giang provincial Department of Construction has proposed building open concrete-made canals and fishbone roads from the main road to the sea, to create a nice landscape and help drain rain water, while reducing infrastructure investment costs.

Admitting that bad state management was a reason behind water drainage congestion that led to the flooding, local authorities have applied measures to settle the problem.

Phu Quoc is also preparing solutions in planning and mapping flooded areas, and consulting with experts on how to prevent floods.

Vu Trong Hong, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, praised the moves taken by Phu Quoc authorities to solve the urgent problems in the drainage system.

Hong believes that Phu Quoc is facing climate change, especially high tides like HCM City. When re-planning, it is necessary to keep close watch over the high tide situation to come up with the most effective solutions to settle the problem.

He said the housing area, residential quarters and offices must be set up higher than the high tide level and the rainwater level.

The areas reserved for agricultural production, husbandry and cultivation can be set up in areas lower than the high tide level, but there should be a higher reserve area.

In the coastal areas, it would be better to build solid infrastructure items.

To develop tourism and protect the environment in Phu Quoc, it plans to build a road around the island, next to the sea with the total length of 12 kilometers and a coastal park with an area of 100 hectares.

Hong said that it is necessary to consider the high tides when designing the road. At this moment, Phu Quoc doesn’t face risks from the rising sea water, but it is still necessary to set up the road higher than the expected level of sea waters, which will rise in the next 100 years. 

Thien Nhien

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Overloaded infrastructure causes flooding on Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc district authorities say the hot development on the island has put pressure on the water drainage system, causing severe flooding in mid-August.