As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, on September 9, in Ban Nhuong village, Ban Thi commune (Cho Don, Bac Kan), a dam break occurred at Bac Kan Non-ferrous Metal Company Limited (Bac Kan Non-ferrous Metal Company).
More than 1,000 tons of waste containing lead, zinc and other chemicals spilled into houses, fields and Ban Thi stream, causing negative impacts on the environment, regional ecosystem and the lives and agricultural production of hundreds of households.
At the end of September 2024, more than half a month after the dam broke, people's properties, crops, and land in many places were still covered in sludge. Not only that, hundreds of households in Cho Don (Bac Kan) and Chiem Hoa (Tuyen Quang) are facing the fear of losing their water source for daily life and production.
Living in the area buried by waste, Ms. Cao Thi Thao (name changed) in Ban Nhuong village, Ban Thi commune (Cho Don) said that since the dam broke, people have not dared to use water from the stream.
"After the dam break, up to now, Ban Thi stream is still stained gray, along both sides of the stream, the stream bed is covered with sediment, in some places tens of centimeters thick. Recently, fish and shrimp have not been seen.
"In the past, we used this water to water vegetables and to feed fish ponds. Some houses near the stream also used the water for daily activities, but now no one dares to use it for fear of lead poisoning," Ms. Thao worried.
To have water to use, many households in Ban Thi commune have to carry cans and plastic bottles nearly 1km to get clean water to store and use for daily activities and cooking.
"Every day we have to go far to get water, and each time we only get a little bit, it takes a lot of effort and is tiring. We just hope that the authorities and Bac Kan Non-ferrous Metal Company have a timely plan to ensure the people's lives" - a resident of Ban Thi commune said.
Many kilometers away from the dam break, households in Binh Phu commune (Chiem Hoa, Tuyen Quang) downstream of Ban Thi stream where the sludge was swept through also suffered the same fate.
Ms. Nong Thi An in Binh Phu commune said that the sludge spill caused damage to livestock, leading to concerns about long-term contamination of domestic and production water sources.
"Families near streams with wells now do not dare to use them. They are afraid of unsafe water sources and lead and zinc poisoning, especially families with small children," Ms. An shared.
On September 28, speaking with reporters, Ms. Quan Thi Chieu - Chairwoman of Binh Phu Commune People's Committee - confirmed that after the mine tailings dam broke, many households in the area do not dare to use water sources for fear of health effects.
"The number of households affected by water sources is currently being counted. The water well area at the Commune People's Committee, near the stream, recently had a pH test result that was not up to standard, so we don't dare use it," said Ms. Chieu.
Local authorities have also advised people not to come into direct contact with the water source in the stream to ensure health safety and await conclusions from authorities.
