Deputy PM requests immediate solutions to landslides in Mekong Delta

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung chaired an urgent meeting in Long Xuyen city, An Giang province on May 15 to seek prompt solutions to landslides occurring along riverbanks and coastal areas in the Mekong Delta region.

Illustration image (Photo: Thai Thien).

The meeting was held amid many severe landslides occurring in recent days including landslides in the coastal areas of Bac Lieu and Ca Mau and on the banks of Vam Nao River and Hau River in An Giang and Dong Thap.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that there are 90 landslide areas in the Mekong Delta region with a total length of 562km which are mainly caused by the imbalance of sediment due to excessive exploitation of sand and the building of upstream reservoirs.

Other reasons for the landslides were reported including deforestation, exploitation of resources in the upstream area, geological features prone to erosion in landslide areas and the sea level rise, among others.

Deputy PM Dung emphasised that the most important task is to protect lives and property for local people and ensure a normal life for them.

He told localities to review residential areas prone to landslides to actively evacuate local people to safe areas while supporting residents in relocated areas to settle down.

Dung also asked the local administration to strengthen management over sand mining and impose strict punishments on those violating the law. He also required immediate measures to prevent landslides from spreading further, affecting residential areas and essential facilities.

The Deputy PM said that a crucial solution for the long term is planning work which must be associated with infrastructure planning, social-economic development planning, climate change and sea level rises.

(Source: NDO)