A part of the erosion along the Hậu River in Mekong Delta's An Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Công Mạo

AN GIANG — Authorities of An Giang Province in Mekong Delta said on Monday that erosion along the Hậu River passing Vĩnh Trường Commune, An Phú District has become a serious issue worthy of being a "emergency situation."

Under a decision signed by Trần Anh Thư, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, the committee asked the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to localise the high-risk area and set up a safety corridor around it.

The An Phú District People’s Committee is responsible for keeping close watch on the area and moving residents out of dangerous places.

The committee must set up warning signals and fences to prevent people and vehicles from passing the area.

Inspectors must patrol around the area regularly and keep public order.

The An Phú District People’s Committee must quickly choose an investor and compile a plan to treat the erosion part based on present regulations.

The An Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said the erosion has been worsening during the past years.

Road 953, which is also a dike protecting 3,500ha of agricultural land and more than 3,000 households, might also be directly affected given its proximity to the area undergoing erosion.

Data of local authorities showed that from 2016 to July 2019, the Hậu River passing Châu Phong Commune has had six cases of erosion and one case of cracking with total length of more than 1.1km.

As many as 37 households were moved to safe places.

The latest erosion happened on July 22 this year with length of 40m and width of 10m. — VNS