Two sea dykes in the Mekong Delta (Cửu Long) province of Bạc Liêu were badly damaged on February 12-13 by high tides, huge waves and strong winds, threatening the lives and properties of local residents.

The Việt Nam Environment Administration (VEA) will collaborate with the Hải Dương Department of Environment to tackle the “environmental incident” recently caused by a Chinese textile company, said Lương Duy Hanh, director of the VEA’s Environment Protection and Control Department on Monday.

Forest rangers were ramping up efforts to protect the seven-elephant herd which recently showed up at the forest edge in Quảng Nam Province’s Quế Lâm Commune, the unit head said.

Authorities in the central province of Quảng Nam have requested agencies to collect and inspect oil clumps that have soiled local beaches over the past week.

Sink holes have been appearing over the past month in the Chợ Đồn District of the northern mountain province of Bắc Kạn, generating anxiety among local residents.

Ranger authorities in central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province are investigating the logging of perennial forest trees in a locally protected area.

The southern province of Bình Thuận plans to invest VNĐ27 billion (around US$1.2 million) to build sea dikes in landslide-hit areas.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has asked 38 cities and provinces nationwide to promptly revise the operation of reservoirs to ensure water sources for low-lying areas in this dry season, especially in vulnerable areas such as the central region, the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta region already hit by drought last year.

The People’s Committee of the Đồng Tháp has approved a VNĐ664 billion ($29.4 million) subproject to improve the drainage capacity and develop sustainable livelihoods for the Đồng Tháp Mười wetland.