THỪA THIÊN- HUẾ — The lives and crops of residents living near the Bồ River bank in central Thừa Thiên- Huế Province are being threatened by riverbank landslides.

Landslides have occurred along the riverbank dike section in the province’s Quảng Điền District, threatening 1,000ha of land in the villages of Tân Xuân Lai, La Vân Thượng, Niêm Phò and Phước Yên in Quảng Thọ Commune.

Trần Phú Hiển, a resident in Niêm Phò Village said landslides had been a problem since some four years ago but the situation deteriorated after floods in November last year.

“The landslide site is expanding day by day, worrying nearby locals,” he said. A report by authorities in Quảng Thọ Commune said the landslides happened across 900m of the riverbank.

Hoàng Công Phong, the commune chairman, said landslides had reduced growing area for Gotu Kola, a plant locals grow. Phong said the commune had reported the situation to higher authorities and used bamboo poles to reinforce the riverbank.

In nearby Quảng Phú Commune, the dike system that helps stop floodwater entering the villages of Phò Nam, Nho Lâm, Nam Phù and Nghĩa Lộ collapsed on a total length of 1km.

Caves appeared at several places on the earthen dike’s foot, cracking the concrete road that serves as the main route across the villages.

Nguyễn Quang Quý, a resident in Phò Nam Village said the dike will collapse totally if nothing is done. “I’m sure that my house and many others in the village will be washed away in the next flood if the dike collapses,” he said.

Residents living near the collapsed section said all they could do was erect warning poles to keep locals safe while commuting.

The Bồ, the province’s second biggest river, originates from Laos border and runs across the districts of Phong Điền, Quảng Điền and Hương Trà before it meets the ocean. The river section in Quảng Điền has many curves, making the district vulnerable to riverbank landslides and strong currents during floods. — VNS