Nearly 40km of the western coast in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has been eroded, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Tam has said.

Stretching across 200km from Mui Nai (Ha Tien district) to Tieu Dua (An Minh district) bordering the southernmost province of Ca Mau, many parts of the western coast have no protective forests and face a high risk of erosion.

Coastal erosion in Son Hai island commune, Kien Luong district, has become serious recently.

Chairwoman of the commune’s People’s Committee Trinh Thi Bich Tuyen said more than 70 metres from the committee’s headquarters to the cultural centre have been eroded. 

Tam blamed the slow progress of erosion prevention projects and limited local funds for the situation.

To cope with erosion, local authorities have directed agencies to reinforce sea dykes and upgrade eroded parts.

The province has also expanded the planting of protective forests and relocated households living in erosion prone areas to safer areas.

It also proposed the government implement natural disaster prevention and climate change adaptation projects.

VNA