Thousands of households are in landslide risk areas.
According to the survey results serving the establishment of projects for resettlement and arrangement of residents in areas at risk of landslides, flash floods, and flash floods in the period of 2021-2025 approved by Quang Ngai province, in 5 mountainous districts, there are more than 1,800 households with more than 7,300 people living in areas at high risk of landslides and natural disasters. In Son Ha mountainous district, there are currently 2 points at high risk of landslides. These landslides are directly threatening schools, houses, as well as people's lives and property, especially dangerous during the rainy and stormy season.
According to authorities in Son Ha district, after recent heavy rains, a crack about 60m long appeared on Mang Ka Muong mountain in Nuoc Tang village. This crack is located at an altitude of 30m and only 50m from the residential area. If a landslide occurs, about 1,500m³ of rock and soil could bury Highway DH77, threatening the residential area, kindergarten and cultural house of Nuoc Tang village.
Mr. Dinh Van Buot, a resident of Nuoc Tang village, said: "Recently, the cracks in Mang Ka Muong mountain have become deeper and deeper, making people very scared, especially during the school year."
Through a field inspection on October 3, 2024, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue of Quang Ngai province determined that the cracks in Mang Ka Muong mountain are showing signs of spreading. In the immediate future, when there is a storm, the People's Committee of Son Bao commune will organize the evacuation of students from Huong Duong Kindergarten (located at the foot of the mountain) to a safe place, and at the same time mobilize people to evacuate to safer houses during storms and heavy rains.
Return to old workplace during storm and flood
During the period 2011-2016, many new administrative buildings and offices in Son Tay district were invested in construction. However, from 2016 to now, every time the rainy season comes, the amount of soil and rocks from the mountain behind continuously flows down, threatening the headquarters such as the District Labor Federation, the Plant Cultivation and Plant Protection Station, the Agricultural Extension Station, the Finance - Planning Department and the Public Service House.
According to the reporter's records, at the Son Tay District Labor Union, rocks and soil from the mountain behind have flowed into the office, yard, parking lot...
Mr. Le Van Luat - Chairman of the Labor Union of Son Tay district - said: "The agency's headquarters was started in 2015 and put into use in 2016. Because the agency is located right at the foot of a high mountain, during the rainy season, landslides are very serious, and a large amount of soil and rocks are swept into the agency. There are 3 offices that have been flooded with soil, and the toilet alone has not been used for the past 3 years because it was buried by soil."
The landslide not only damaged the facilities of the agencies but also made the officials, civil servants and workers here extremely worried, because the mountain behind could collapse at any time, especially when there is prolonged heavy rain.
To deal with landslides, in 2018, the People's Committee of Son Tay district added 10 billion VND to the District Construction Investment Project Management Board to urgently implement embankments to prevent landslides at agencies in the administrative center area. Despite the construction of embankments, reinforcement with stone cages, digging talus slopes to reduce load and building a system of ditches and drainage culverts, landslides still recurred during the rainy season. Many sections of the slopes were broken due to landslides. The high mountain behind these agencies has weak, loose soil, making landslide control even more difficult.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tran - Chairman of Son Tay District People's Committee - said: "During this year's flood season, Son Tay District People's Committee determined that the mountainous area where 5 state agencies are working is at high risk of landslides. Therefore, when there is heavy rain, all staff of these agencies will move to the old headquarters to work. When the geological foundation in the landslide area is stable, we will plant trees to prevent landslides, this will be more effective."
