Land erosion in Cù Lao Dung Commune, located in the lower reaches of the Hậu River.in the Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Phi

CẦN THƠ — The People's Committee of Cần Thơ City on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Nguyên Tăng hamlet in Cù Lao Dung Commune due to serious dyke erosion.

According to the authorities, a section about 2,000-meter long of the dyke built to protect the commune along the Hậu River is facing severe erosion.

As the forest area that protects the dyke has been destroyed, river waves caused by excessive rainwater are striking the dyke directly and cause it to crack.

"The dyke is at risk of breaching at any moment due to the combined impact of high tides, storms and strong waves," the authorities warned.

Without timely reinforcement, a dyke breach would cause floodwaters to inundate the entire hamlet and threaten the lives of hundreds of households.

Critical areas including the Xóm Đáy residential cluster, the resettlement area established following the 2022 landslides, and the Xóm Đáy super-intensive shrimp farming zone would all be submerged.

To mitigate immediate damage while planning a comprehensive solution, the city's Department of Agriculture and Environment is coordinating with the Cù Lao Dung Commune People's Committee to carry out temporary reinforcement of the affected areas.

These efforts aim to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow and prevent saltwater intrusion and high tides from damaging agricultural production and residents' daily lives.

The commune's authorities are also installing warning signs around the danger zone and constantly issuing emergency alerts via mass media channels.

Residents have been advised to take proactive measures to protect their property, such as elevating their belongings and raising the height of embankments.

Response teams have prepared plans to mobilise personnel and resources to assist with evacuations and provide timely aid, should a worst-case scenario arise.

The complex nature and destructive force of river currents in the area have been an ongoing issue, according to Cần Thơ authorities.

A protective forest belt, consisting of nipa palms and mangrove apple trees spanning 30 to 40m, existed when dykes were built on the left and right of Cù Lao Dung Commune in 2005.

However, it was gradually washed away by strong river currents.

In 2022, the People's Committee of the former Sóc Trăng Province (now part of Cần Thơ City) declared a state of emergency and relocated all households living outside the dyke system to safer areas. — VNS