In Muong Thanh commune - one of the particularly difficult mountainous localities of Phu Tho province, landslides and subsidence are becoming increasingly serious.
In particular, Thoi Ba hamlet is considered a hot spot when many households living right on the hillside are facing a high risk of landslides.
On October 23, Lao Dong Newspaper reporter noted that on the hillside of Thoi Ba hamlet, Muong Thang commune, many large cracks appeared, stretching for tens of meters. Right at the foot of the hill, dozens of households are always ready to move to a safe place whenever the storm comes.
Mr. Bui Dinh Vinh - Head of Thoi Ba hamlet - said that the hamlet currently has 22 households with more than 80 people living right at the foot of the hill - where rocks and soil have begun to show signs of landslides.
"The crack runs along the hill for nearly 4 hectares, some places are up to nearly 1 m deep. If the heavy rain continues, the risk of landslides is very high," Mr. Vinh worried.
According to Mr. Vinh, due to the impact of the recent storms No. 10 (Bualoi) and No. 11 ( Matmo), many new cracks have appeared in the area. On the night of October 6, the People's Committee of Muong Thang commune organized an emergency evacuation of all households in the danger zone to a safe place, the cultural house of Thoi Ba hamlet.
At the home of Mr. Bui Van Xien (38 years old), the soil behind the house cracked along the hillside about 10 m long, nearly 30 cm deep.
"We can stay in the sun, but if it rains, we have to go to the cultural house. Living like this is very stressful, not knowing when the land will collapse," Mr. Xien shared.
Faced with the dangerous situation, the Muong Thang commune government has put up warning signs at locations at risk of landslides, and advised people to limit traveling to subsided areas. Households in the risk area are instructed to temporarily relocate to ensure the safety of their lives.
However, according to Mr. Bui Van Ben - Head of the Economic Department of Muong Thang commune, this is only a temporary solution, because after each heavy rain, the cracks continue to expand, seriously threatening people's lives.
On the afternoon of October 22, a working group of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee and related departments, branches and sectors directly worked with Muong Thang Commune People's Committee and went down to inspect the current status of the crack in the hillside area of Thoi Ba hamlet.
The working group recorded the level of subsidence, assessed the risk preliminarily and agreed that emergency measures were needed to ensure the safety of the people.
"The People's Committee of the commune has proposed that the Provincial People's Committee soon send experts to survey and assess geology to determine the level of landslide risk, and at the same time allocate funds to build resettlement areas, helping people have safe and stable long-term housing," Mr. Ben informed.
