A section on Provincial Road No 965 in Kiên Giang Province’s U Minh Thượng District has subsided. — VNA/VNS Photo Lê Huy Hải

KIÊN GIANG — Subsidence has occurred on many sections on Provincial Road No 965 in Kiên Giang Province’s U Minh Thượng District, making travel difficult.  

The subsidence area is nearly 50m in length and more than 2m in width. 

The 60km-long provincial road, which is part of a dyke system covering U Minh Thượng National Park in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kiên Giang, is the main road in the province’s key economic area in U Minh Thượng District.

A survey recently conducted by the province showed that dozens of spots on the provincial road had developed cracks, which could lead to serious subsidence.

To prevent accidents, local authorities have set up fences and warning signs around the damaged sections and areas prone to subsidence.

Nguyễn Văn Tâm, director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that provincial road No 965 was at risk of subsidence because of the drought that began in early March.

Water levels in canals in the U Minh Thượng forest area are lower than the normal level and have dropped sharply, causing roads to collapse.

On March 24, land subsidence extending 40 metres in length was reported on the provincial road, as well as cracks 25 metres long on many sections. — VNS