The southern bank of the Ba Thê Canal in Bình Mỹ Commune in An Giang Province’s Châu Phú District was eroded along a 10m stretch on May 30. – VNA/VNS Photo

AN GIANG – The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang faces an increasing threat of erosion along its rivers and canals, causing many people to relocate to safer areas.

On May 30 and 31 it suffered from erosion in one spot each in Chợ Mới and Châu Phú districts and Long Xuyên City, according to its Steering Committee for Climate Change Response, Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, and civil defense.

One was in Chợ Mới’s Hội An Town where a 40-metre long and 3-4-metre wide section of the Hội An- Hoà An Canal’s bank was eroded in Thị 1 Hamlet on May 30, affecting two households and forcing them to move out.

In Long Xuyên City’s Mỹ Thạnh Commune, a 35-metre stretch of the road along the Cái Sắn Canal between Cái Sắn Lớn and Năm Sú bridges developed 1-20cm cracks due to erosion.

Lương Huy Khanh, head of the Steering Committee office, said the erosion was caused by high tides, weak banks, strong water flows, boats, and prolonged rains.

Authorities have inspected the eroded places, installed barriers and ropes to keep out people and relocated affected families and their properties to safer areas.

They are assessing the damage.

Located in the delta’s upstream area and with dense river and canal networks, An Giang has been suffering from increasing erosion in recent years because of both natural and human factors.

Last year there were 68 instances affecting a total length of 3,279m and 40 houses.

In 2021 the numbers were 43, 2,049 and 39.

The provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment inspects all river and canal banks twice a year and eroded sites along with local authorities and instals barriers at such places.

An Giang has 56 erosion-prone places, with five classified as extremely dangerous, that threaten the safety of 20,000 households, of which more than 5,380 need to be relocated urgently, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

The province is building new residential areas to relocate households in erosion-prone areas, and dredging rivers and canals to prevent the erosion. – VNS