Dyke breaks threaten thousand lives in Quảng Trị

October 30, 2016 - 19:00

Significant parts of a dyke system in central Quảng Trị Province was eroded by flooding early this month, threating the lives and crop of residents.

The broken hole found on the surface of Quảng Trị dyke. — VNS Photo Lâm Hưng Thơ
Viet Nam News

QUẢNG TRỊ — Significant parts of a dyke system in central Quảng Trị Province was eroded by flooding early this month, threating the lives and crop of residents.

The erosion has created a 1,000 sq.m hole in the concrete surface of Nam Thạch Hãn dyke. According to Nguyễn Duy Thông, a representative of the local agency managing the province’s dyke system, the flood swept away the concrete, leaving the steel frame of the dyke.

Many holes also appeared on the lower sides of the dyke, he said.

The dyke is supposed to control flood flows to protect thousands of residents living in the province’s Hải Lăng and Triệu Phong districts. Some of 15,000 hectares of their rice and vegetables would also be flooded if the structure collapsed.

Following a site visit last weekend, Nguyễn Đức Chính, chairman of the province People’s Committee, asked relevant agencies to brainstorm and come up with ways to urgently repair the damage given that a flood is forecast to occur early this week.

According to the local department of agriculture and rural development, blocks of rock will be placed inside the steel frames to fill the dyke’s broken hole and reinforce the bottom.

The dyke was built in 1978 to control floods, and hold water for agriculture and aquaculture during the dry season. — VNS

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