Had to receive guests at the alley entrance due to flooding
Wading through the water to lead reporters to the field, Mr. Nguyen Huy Cuong, residing in Group 20, Zone 3, Ha Khanh Ward - said: "After the city implemented projects such as Ngo Quyen High School and the road along the canal, from April 2024 until now, this residential area has been frequently flooded, with high tides higher than 3.7m, flooding on average about 10 times a month. Like today, November 9, the high tide peaked at 4.1m, this is the third consecutive day that high tides have flooded residential areas. High tides do not appear at a fixed time, some days in the early morning, many people have to rush to work earlier before the sea water floods the road, if they are a little late, they have to carry their children to school or move by foam floats to the alley entrance; some days the high tide rises in the late afternoon, many people have to leave their motorbikes outside the alley and wade through the water to get home" - Mr. Cuong added.
According to the reporter's observation, the sea water flooded the 30m long alley, the deepest point was about 50cm. Many trees and crops on both sides of the road had turned yellow.
Ms. Mac Thi Nhu (81 years old) recalled: “I have lived here for more than 50 years, but there has never been a year when the sea level has risen like this. For example, on October 22, a group of my former students from Da Nang came to visit, but they could not enter the house, so I had to receive guests at the entrance of the alley. In the garden, areca, jackfruit, and banana trees have all died due to salinity, and the vegetable garden has not been able to be replanted yet."
Solutions proposed
Speaking to Lao Dong reporter, Mr. Vu Duc Hoan - Vice Chairman of Ha Khanh Ward People's Committee - said that the Ward People's Committee has sent officials to the flooded area to inspect the situation. This is a low-lying residential area compared to the surrounding area, when the tide is high, not only area 3 but also some households in area 2 are flooded.
The reason is that ponds and lakes in the area are gradually changing, the speed of urbanization and concreting is happening quickly, the ability to store water and seep water into the ground is reduced, and drainage is mainly on the canal and sewer system, which is also a part of the cause of flooding every time the tide is high.
Another reason is that Ha Long City is implementing a road project along the canal, on the left side of the route from K67 bridge, Ha Khanh ward, through Nuoc Man bridge to road 336, Ha Lam ward, there is a sewer system and sluice gates to drain water and prevent seawater intrusion. Currently, these sluice gates have not been completely installed, leading to seawater entering the residential area through the sewer system.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the ward also proposed a solution to dredge the sewer system and install a forced pumping system to drain water in the area during heavy rains to avoid flooding in residential areas. It is necessary to have a roadmap to upgrade infrastructure in the area to adapt to the phenomenon of rising sea levels.
The Ward People's Committee has commented on this content at the meeting of voters of the City People's Council on June 27, but up to now the construction units have not yet resolved it.
Explaining the reason for the delay in implementation, Mr. Luu Ngoc Tuan - Deputy Director of the Ha Long City Construction Investment Project Management Board (project investor) - said: "The project of the road along the canal, on the left side of the route from K67 bridge, Ha Khanh ward, through Nuoc Man bridge to road 336, Ha Lam ward, has been implemented since December 2022. On the canal, there are 5 locations for installing sluice gates, currently 3 locations have not been completely installed, the delay in implementation is due to lack of fill soil. After receiving feedback from the people and the press, the board requested the construction unit to immediately install the sluice gates before November 27, 2024 to ensure drainage in the area and prevent erosion".
According to local people, they are looking forward to solutions being implemented to stabilize their lives.
