MEKONG DELTA — The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched an online map website featuring eroded sites along rivers and the coast in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta in an effort to reduce losses from the increasing number of landslides that have occurred in recent years.

The online map website integrating the Geographical Information System (WEBGIS) was introduced at a conference held in Hà Nội on Monday (June 18).

The map was created by the Việt Nam Disaster Management Authority at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with other scientific research agencies.

The website https://satlodbscl.phongchongthientai.vn shows locations, images and videos of sites high risk of landslides in the Mekong Delta.

Climate change has seriously affected socio-economic development of provinces and cities in the delta, especially in locations near rivers and sea coasts.

The number of erosion incidents has been increasing, threatening property and people’s lives.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, there are 562 eroded sites along rivers and sea coasts extending 786km that have caused damage to the region. These include 513 river sites and 49 coastal sites.

Of the figure, 55 of the eroded sites over a length of 173km are considered “very dangerous” and need to be resolved as soon as possible.

The delta needs nearly VNĐ7 trillion (US$308 million) to address problems at eroded sites.

Trần Quang Hoài, director general of the Việt Nam Disaster Management Authority, said the ministry, in collaboration with agencies and localities, should classify the severity and type of landslides to find immediate and long-term solutions.

He directed local agencies to continue to update information on WEBGIS.

The Government plans to grant 1.5 trillion ($65.5 million) from State budget to the delta to solve problems at "very dangerous" eroded sites and to build a basic database of eroded sites.

Hoàng Văn Thắng, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the map would help leaders in the delta take steps to prevent and control erosion incidents.

Localities and agencies in the delta will receive training on how to use the map.

The ministry has also provided guiding documents to localities on how to install warning signs at eroded sites; resettle households living in erosion-prone areas; and tighten management of sand exploitation along rivers and coastal areas. — VNS