Erosion of a small river’s bank in Cà Mau Province's Rạch Gốc Town on July 8 destroyed nine houses and caused estimated losses of VNĐ1 billion (US$39,111). — Photo tuoitre.vn

CÀ MAU — Ngọc Hiển District in the southernmost province of Cà Mau has already suffered from 20 riverbank erosion this rainy season though it has only just begun, and the resultant losses are estimated at over VNĐ1.3 billion (US$50,700) besides the adverse effect they have had on the lives of local people.

On the night of July 8 an erosion in Rạch Gốc Town destroyed four houses and damaged five others, causing an estimated loss of VNĐ1 billion (US$39,100).

Thankfully, no casualties were reported.

Võ Khánh Linh said he and his family felt their house shaking and the walls starting to crack.

They managed to flee before a part of the house collapsed into the river but lost everything they possessed, he said.

Other houses in the area experienced similar occurrences a few minutes later.

Rescuers were able to evacuate everyone and move a lot of household items out by next morning, local authorities said.

An assessment of the area found cracks on the floors of two other houses, which make them susceptible to a collapse.

Families in the area said they know living in riverside houses is dangerous, especially in the rainy season when high tides and landslides regularly occur, but they could not afford to move elsewhere.

District authorities said they have been raising awareness among local people to help prevent landslides and promptly react to them and other disasters during the rainy season.

They have also evacuated houses in landslide-prone areas and asked locals to regularly look for and report unusual cracks in their properties.

Cà Mau has 425km in area of riverine lands that have suffered from or are prone to landslips.

Around 28km of roads and hundreds of houses have already been destroyed. — VNS