Landslide threatens Đắk Nông Province

A landslide threatens lives and production of farmers living along Krông Nô river. – VNA/VNS Photo Anh Dũng

ĐẮK NÔNG – Some  一 五ha of agriculture land and farm produce of  五0 households in Nâm N’Đir Co妹妹une, Krông Nô District, Đắk Nông Province, was lost in a landslide in Krông Nô river.

According to the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, along Krông Nô river, which is located on the border of Đắk Nông and Đắk Lắk provinces, there are  一 九 land erosion spots covering a length of  八. 五 km in total and spanning over five co妹妹unes of Quảng Phú, Đắk Nang, Đức Xuyên, Nâm N’Đir and Buôn Choah. 

Each landslide spot is five to  三0 metres wide and five to  一0 metres deep. 

Nguyễn Văn Đông, a local of Nâm N’Đir Co妹妹une said, “I lost nearly one hectare of agriculture land due to the landslide. A  五0-square-metre hut with farming devices also collapsed into the river.”

Trần Thị Thảo, a nearby resident, is also worried that her house may collapse anytime. Farmers grow grass along river banks to avoid erosion but it does not work, she said, adding that many households have moved to other areas.

“My family cannot afford to buy land so we have to stay here,” she said.

According to the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the landslide occurred due to overexploitation of sand. 

Water released from the Buôn Tua Srah hydropower plant has altered the flow of the Krông Nô river. This has resulted in changing the geological structure of the river bed which has weak geology and has caused erosion of the land.

The department has proposed suspending operations of Xuân Bình, Phú Bình and Quỳnh Mai companies in the eroded areas while stepping up inspection and supervision on sand exploitation in landslide areas and imposing fines for violations.

Đắk Nông Province’s authorities have asked the Buôn Kuốp hydropower company to manage water flow without sudden release.

The hydropower and sand mining companies must assess damages to evaluate compensation for residents affected by the landslide.

With the aim of providing long-term solutions, authorities of  Đắk Nông and Đắk Lắk provinces will co-operate to manage sand exploitation in the river and conduct studies on building an embankment at the eroded areas. — VNS