Large landslide threatens 23 households in Điện Biên

Part of the crack in the earth which has shifted in Huổi Lắp Village, Quảng Lâm Commune in the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên.— VNA/VNS Photo

ĐIỆN BIÊN — The Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of Mường Nhé District, Điện Biên Province has urged 23 households to temporarily relocate to relatives’ homes after they were designated at high risk of being caught in a landslide.

The area, which is located in Huổi Lắp Village, Quảng Lâm Commune, poses a high risk of landslips due to the prolonged heavy rains in recent days.

Tạ Văn Sơn, chairman of the People’s Committee, said that the area was adjacent to National Highway 4H, with a crack length of about 300 metres and a subsidence depth of up to one metre.

The height of the crack from the surface of the national highway was approximately 200 metres.

A substantial amount of mud and soil had flowed through small crevices from the area onto the highway, causing traffic congestion and impacting 23 households with 117 residents living along the highway beneath the area.

Upon discovering the landslide, the steering committee urged the 23 households to move to their relatives’ homes temporarily.

On Sunday, authorities discovered an additional crack about 60 metres long and 0.5m to 0.8m deep above the previously identified landslide area.

On Monday, the People’s Committee of the district requested that the provincial People’s Committee and the provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue form an interagency inspection team to promptly assess, evaluate and propose measures to ensure the safety of residents and infrastructure in the high-risk landslide area in the village.

The district also asked the provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Finance to consider allocating funds for resettling the 23 households.

The Centre for Clean Water and Environmental Sanitation was told to coordinate with the district to survey resettlement points and arrange for the relocation of residents from the disaster area.

Following the district People’s Committee’s request, the provincial People’s Committee issued official document No. 3459 on Monday, regarding the inspection, assessment and proposal of safety measures for residents and infrastructure in the high-risk landslide area in the village.

The district People’s Committee was ordered to proactively allocate emergency funds to support food and essential supplies for households at risk of hunger, ensure the safety of temporary housing and implement measures to prevent disease and maintain environmental sanitation for the residents.

The district had to continue to monitor the weather, increase warnings and be on duty for natural disaster prevention 24/7 to promptly detect and organise the relocation of people and property to ensure safety during incidents.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was assigned to lead and coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to urgently inspect the site, assess the current situation and forecast the landslide risk in the village.

Based on the assessment, they had to propose and implement measures to ensure the absolute safety of residents and property in the affected area and report the results to the provincial People’s Committee by August 15. — VNS