An eroded area along the Ô Môn River in Cần Thơ City’s Ô Môn District. – VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Liêm

CẦN THƠ – The city of Cần Thơ People’s Committee has decided to urgently build two embankment projects to curb erosion along two canals in Phong Điền and Vĩnh Thạnh districts.

One embankment will be 80m long along the Rạch Sung Canal in Phong Điền’s Nhơn Nghĩa Commune and the other is 70m long along the Cái Sắn Canal in Vĩnh Thạnh’s Vĩnh Trinh Commune.

They will cost a total of VNĐ13 billion (US$550,000) from the city’s budget and be built in 2022 – 2023.

Nguyễn Ngọc Hè, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, said the construction of the two embankments aims to prevent further erosion and urgently restore transportation.

It also aims to protect the property and safety of local people living near the eroded areas, he said.

River and canal erosion in the city has occurred in recent years, causing damage to the property of local people, according to the province's Steering Committee for Civil Defense - Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, and Search and Rescue.

The city has taken various measures to prevent erosion in recent years, including building erosion prevention projects.

It has also mobilised local groups to be available and ready to cope with natural disasters.

The city’s budget is limited, however, and does not have sufficient funds for building erosion preventing projects in eroded areas.

The city has petitioned the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and relevant ministries to allocate about VNĐ750 billion ($31.5 million) to build four urgent erosion prevention embankment projects.

The four embankments will have a total length of 5,150m and will be built at the Trà Nóc and Bình Thuỷ rivers in Bình Thuỷ District and the Cái Sắn River in Vĩnh Thạnh District.

Nguyễn Qúi Ninh, head of the provincial Steering Committee’s office, said the four embankments are urgent major projects in eroded areas.

The city also needs some facilities, including large canoes for search and rescue activities, he said.

Strong winds and whirlwinds have flattened 10 houses and blown off the roofs of 42 houses in the city so far this year.

The city has also had nine erosion cases with a total length of 268m so far this year, causing five whole houses and parts of 16 houses to fall into rivers at a cost of VNĐ2.6 billion ($110,000). – VNS