AN GIANG — Fourteen houses and two house floors in Mỹ Hội Đông Commune, Chợ Mới District of Mekong Delta Province of An Giang fell into the Hậu River on Saturday morning due to a landslide, panicking local residents.

A road connecting Mỹ Hội Đông Commune and Nhơn Mỹ Commune was also damaged and isolated.

The 70-metre long landslide caused estimated total damages of VNĐ8.8 billion (US$391,000). There have been no deaths.

The provincial People’s Council issued a state of emergency in the affected area along the river.

Trương Trung Lập, Chairman of Chợ Mới District’s People’s Committee said that local forces have been mobilised round the clock to follow the landslide, ensure traffic order, evacuate residents and their properties out of the landslide area.

A Mỹ Hội Đông primary school announced it would close today and tomorrow.

An alternative road to replace the damaged road is set to be built.

According to Lâm Quang Thi, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, local authorities allocated nearly VNĐ 3 billion ($133,300) to the households whose houses were damages or at risk from the landslide.

An Giang Province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment forecasted on Saturday that the landslide would cover 260m.

The department proposed local authorities ban vehicles on the trans-communal road, relocate residents living in areas of risk and update locals on the situation.

The department also proposed dismantling houses constructed on the river bank to reduce weight on the road.

The locality should relocate residents, roads and infrastructure far from area prones to landslide, the department recommended.

For the long term, the provincial People’s Committee and Construction Department are in charge of helping the affected people find new accommodation.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for selecting consultants to review and propose effective measures to address the landslide.  — VNS