A section of Gành Hào sea dyke damaged by high tides, huge waves and strong winds in the Mekong Delta province of Bạc Liêu. — VNA/VNS Photo |
HÀ NỘI – The Bạc Liêu Province People’s Committee has officially announced that the erosion of two local sea embankment systems constitutes an emergency.
The Gành Hào in Đông Hải District and Nhà Mát in Bạc Liêu City sea embankment systems have become seriously eroded, and now threaten the safety of the local sea dyke, according to the decision signed on March 2 by Bạc Liêu Province People’s Committee Chairman, Dương Thành Trung.
The announcement of the emergency was based on weather forecasts around sea and coastal areas, according to the decision.
The chairman said the province was in urgent need of VNĐ250 billion (US$11.4 million) to repair dyke works affected by erosion at two embankment systems.
Bạc Liêu Province People’s Committee has asked two authorities of Đông Hải District and Bạc Liêu City to issue warnings for erosion areas and prepare to move residents to safe areas.
The chairman has asked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to immediately implement erosion belts, demarcation and signal areas.
The department will be responsible for removing local residents to safe areas, and implementing measures to prevent further erosion and protect sea dykes.
The Department of Information and Communications has been assigned to provide timely warnings, in order to help local residents actively avoid incidents.
Local police and army forces must be put on standby to support local authorities and residents in emergency situations.
The provincial People’s Committee also asks the department of transport and waterway management office to prevent vehicles moving within erosion areas.
Warning about erosion at Nhà Mát and Gành Hào sea dykes were made by local authorities since January, the damage becoming serious, chairman Dương Thành Trung said, and Gành Hào was at high risk of collapse.
“Over 8,000 households in Gành Hào Town are directly affected by erosion and tides,” Trung said.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported erosion at Gành Hào sea embankment had total acreage of 870sq.m, with an eroded length of 90m, width of 10m and depth of 2.5m. Nhà Mát embankment had an erosion length of 24m while many cracks and subsidence were reported along the rest of the embankment.-- VNS