The problem of a garbage pit burst due to... prolonged heavy rain?
As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, on July 30, 2025, a waste pit broke in Ngoc Hoi solid waste treatment complex (Quang Ngai province), causing serious environmental pollution and affecting the economy and lives of local people.
After the incident, the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province directed to overcome the consequences, the government, businesses and dialogue with the people to find appropriate support and compensation solutions.
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment held a meeting to discuss with the Project Management Board and Public Services of Bo Y commune (operating unit), Kon Tum No. 9 TV-DT Company Limited (iding design), Kon Tum Bao Tran Company Limited (construction) and Binh Dinh Bridge and Road Construction Investment Company Limited (monitoring).
The waste treatment joint venture has a total investment of more than 49 billion VND from the central budget and Ngoc Hoi district (old), with a collection capacity of 45-50 tons of waste/day. The main items include: a 210,000 m3 landfill, a 50 m3 leachate treatment tank, a 500 m3 biological tank, a 50 m3/day and night leachate treatment system, along with a workers' house, a chemical warehouse, etc.
From data provided by the units, the Department of Agriculture and Environment assessed: "The design and construction documents are all in accordance with standards. The construction unit affirms that it always complies with the documents". The project will be operated from January 26, 2025.
After the meeting, the department reported to the Provincial People's Committee to state that the cause of the garbage pit burst was due to prolonged heavy rain, causing erosion near the leachate regulating valve, leading to water overflowing into the environment.
Mr. Ho Trong Phuong - Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment proposed not to consider the responsibility of relevant organizations and individuals, because he considered this an unusual change in nature, an incident caused by prolonged heavy rain.
People request to investigate the quality of the project
However, according to records, two months after the incident, the environment around the waste treatment plant is still heavily polluted. The leachate seeped into agricultural production land (co coffee, durian, fish farming land with high economic value...), many ponds and aquaculture ponds were buried with mud and waste, people suffered great damage but could not recover it themselves.
Mr. Giap Van San (Dak To commune) said that his family lost nearly 1 billion VND, of which 800 million was borrowed from a fish farming bank, but the construction unit only suggested support of 39 million VND.
Living in the area for many years, people affirmed that the rainfall in June-August 2025 was at a normal level, not higher than previous years, so they did not agree with the conclusion due to "disaster".
Many households have signed a petition to the Provincial People's Committee requesting an investigation into the quality of the project, drainage design, environmental impact assessment procedures and solutions to completely overcome pollution.
On September 27, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Phuoc Hien said that he would direct the authorities to re-inspect the scene, continue to monitor and report for timely handling.
