Death hole threatens residential land
As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, at the end of March 2025, on National Highway 3B through Hiep Luc village, Kim Lu commune, Na Ri district (Bac Kan), a death hole about 9m long, 8m deep on average, appeared in the middle of the median strip.
Subsidence not only occurs on traffic routes but also appears on local people's cultivated fields not far away. The landslides form deep holes, causing people to be insecure and worried about potential dangers.
Having lived on National Highway 3B for many years, Mr. Nguyen Van Thinh, Kim Lu Commune, Na Ri District has never witnessed an unusual phenomenon of subsidence like recently, causing the whole countryside to live in anxiety. Mr. Thinh said that since the time the first death hole appeared, the later it became, the situation of subsidence of the ground continuously recurred, tending to spread.
"In the morning of 1.5, near the first subsidence hole on Highway 3B, there were two other deep pits on the two sides of the road, each with a width of 2 - 5m, 4-7m deep, at the bottom of the pit with water. The location of the holes located from the garden, fence of the people from 7 - 15m, some places in the garden of people also appear cracks, stretching along the cement floor.
Similar to the situation, Mr. Trieu Van Ninh (Kim Lu commune) said that although his house is about 60m from the subsidence site, recently, many cracks have appeared on the walls of his family's house. The cracks extended along the edge of the wall and tended to spread, making his family insecure and not daring to live.
Every time I see these cracks, I cant help but feel insecure and worried about the safety of my family members. We hope that the authorities will soon take remedial measures to ensure a place to live and the lives of the people here," Mr. Ninh said worriedly.
Relocating, finding solutions
Regarding the incident, Mr. Luong Thanh Loc - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Ri district (Bac Kan) - confirmed that 2 more sinkholes had just appeared in the area and had now relocated a household here out of the danger zone to ensure the safety of property and life.
Immediately after recording new sinkholes on National Highway 3B, the Na Ri district authorities immediately inspected the scene, isolated the danger zone and organized barriers on both sides of the road. Travel through the sinking area has been temporarily suspended, and nearby households have been supported to evacuate people and property to prevent risks.
As of early May 2025, there have been 7 subsidence points in Kim Lu commune (Na Ri), many of which are located close to residential areas, greatly affecting people's lives and psychology.
Faced with this serious development, specialized agencies have stepped in, conducted field surveys, and assessed the phenomenon of road subsidence at Km80+050 as unusual, with a wide range of impacts, requiring careful investigation of geological and hydrological causes.
Previously, on April 16, a working group from Bac Kan province and the Institute of Geological Sciences and Minerals inspected the field and reviewed the current status of groundwater exploitation in the area. Preliminary assessments show that subsidence is at high risk, and solutions are needed soon to ensure safety. The Institute proposed to urgently conduct detailed geological surveys, considering Karst elements and caves as a suitable basis for technical treatment.
