VietNamNet Bridge – The An Giang People's Committee has required the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment to implement a comprehensive study on the Cam Mountains to avoid possible landslides and falling rocks.

The move followed a huge dislodged boulder killing six people and seriously injuring two last Saturday. The mountain is a well-known tourist attraction in An Hao Commune of Tinh Bien District.

The committee urged the department to quickly propose effective measures to assure the safety of tourists by June at the latest.
Standing Vice Chairman of the committee Huynh The Nang told the Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper that this was an expected calamity, mainly caused by pro-longed heavy rain.

Cam Mountain is a bare hill burdened by landslides during heavy downpours. Since 1993, the provincial authority has urged its afforestation.

Road construction for mining also contributed to the recent fatal accident, he said.

According to the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the landslide hit spot was about 550m higher compared to the road and totally isolated due to a previous mining explosion.

Rocks were weathered and fell after being eroded by rainwater, it added.

Worse, the rocks crushed others while falling, making them dangerous due to their ability to fall at any second.

Nang said that the Tinh Bien District People's Committee has worked with the provincial Transport Department to clear the site and repair the road.

The committee was also working with the An Giang Tourism Development JSC to move fallen rocks stuck in tree branches and other risky obstacles.

All the jobs must be completed by the end of this month, Nang said.

Currently, all vehicles are banned on this route and about 4,000 local residents on the mountain are suffering a shortage of necessities.

"The price of rice and food has doubled as there're not many available," Pham Viet Tan, head of Vo Dau Village, said.
Tinh Bien People's Committee Chairman Ngo Hong Yen said that it took 15 days to complete site clearance and re-open the road. The committee has mobilised a team to transport food and petrol to local residents.

Yen added that the committee was trying to mobilise more people to transport necessities up the mountain during the coming days.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News