Nghe An: Dozens of households living under the 'mouth of death' are waiting for resettlement
(Baonghean.vn) - Affected by a landslide a year ago, dozens of households in Chau Khe commune (Con Cuong) have not been able to move to their new homes. Every time there is heavy rain, commune officials have to go to each house to mobilize people to evacuate.
Mysterious Crack
In early October, after hearing the weather forecast of widespread heavy rain, a group of officials from Chau Khe commune (Con Cuong) rushed to Bung Xat village, about 5km from the headquarters. They divided themselves to go to each house to persuade people to evacuate, in the face of the risk of the mountain collapsing and burying dozens of houses. However, not all people cooperated. "Because they were too tired. Because each evacuation is not a simple matter," said a Chau Khe commune official who regularly went to persuade people to evacuate.
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| The crack is getting bigger after 1 year. Photo: Tien Hung |
Bung Xat village is a Thai village that has long lived along the Choang stream. In recent years, they have been stuck between two hydroelectric dams. About 8 km downstream is the Chi Khe hydroelectric dam, and about 5 km upstream is the Suoi Choang hydroelectric dam. After the hydroelectric dam was built, the water level of Choang stream rose, and many households living downstream had to move to a new resettlement area.
Everything was peaceful for the remaining households, until one day in late October 2020. After loud explosions, rocks and soil poured down from the mountain. The villagers could only shout to each other and run away in the rainy night. No one had time to bring any belongings with them. They had to take refuge with relatives nearby. The next morning, when the rain had cleared, the villagers returned to check and were shocked by the mysterious crack hanging over the heads of dozens of households.
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| 17 houses located right below are at risk of being buried if the mountain collapses. Photo: My Ha |
The cracks, about 2m deep and 1m wide, run in an arc shape for more than 200m, tearing the mountainside apart, threatening to collapse onto the villages below at any time. This area used to be a bamboo forest planted by the people for many generations. According to estimates by Chau Khe commune leaders, the amount of soil and rock completely separated from the mountainside is about 500,000m3.3If the rain continues, there is a risk that the flood will not only sweep away all 17 houses but also the asphalt road will easily be swept away into the hydroelectric reservoir.
That is why at that time, Chau Khe commune had to assign security forces to be on duty at the crack for many months. This group was responsible for observing the crack to warn nearby residents as well as passersby. The remaining 17 households at the highest risk of being affected were asked to take refuge at relatives' houses.
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| Cracks tearing through the mountainside. Photo: Tien Hung |
As for the cause of the cracks, the authorities have yet to come to a conclusion. However, according to the people of Bung Xat village, the cause comes from the hydroelectric dams. “We are stuck between two hydroelectric dams, the rising water level changes the structure of the soil and rock, causing cracks,” said a resident of Bung Xat village.
Resettlement on paper
Ms. Loc Thi Dien (63 years old, Bung Xat village) said that she could not remember how many times she had to evacuate during the past year. “The first time, after the cracks appeared, we had to take refuge for 2 months. Since then, every time there was heavy rain, the officials came and asked us to evacuate, about 5 or 6 times. Each time we went, we had to go for about a week before we could return, sometimes it rained for half a month,” Ms. Dien said, clicking her tongue.
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| Mrs. Dien next to her stilt house that is at risk of collapsing at any moment. Photo: My Ha |
Her husband died early, her children work far away, Ms. Dien lives alone in a spacious stilt house on the mountainside. However, since the crack appeared, her house has gradually been at the mouth of the "river god", only a few dozen centimeters away from the abyss. "Everyone living here is in fear, but evacuating is not possible. It also bothers relatives and family members," Ms. Dien said, adding that every time it rains heavily, she has to take her biggest asset, a male buffalo, to stay at an uncle's house. But when the weather clears, she hides from the officials to go back to check the house, because not all assets can be taken away during the evacuation.
“That said, staying like that is also unsightly and embarrassing. Although I often contribute rice and buy food. Staying for a few days is fine, but staying for a whole month is inconvenient,” said Ms. Dien. Next to Ms. Dien’s house, Mr. Loc Van Hung (70 years old) said that his family is also very tired because they have to run away every time it rains. Mr. Hung is a war invalid, and the old couple also has to raise a disabled child. Therefore, their family situation is also very difficult. Like Ms. Dien, Mr. Hung hopes to move to a new place soon, so that he no longer has to live in fear and stay at relatives’ houses.
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| A house threatened by landslide. Photo: Tien Hung |
According to the reporter's investigation, immediately after the crack appeared, the People's Committee of Con Cuong district sent a document to the Provincial People's Committee on the policy of urgently evacuating households affected by natural disasters in Bung Xat village. Upon receiving the document, the Provincial People's Committee issued a document assigning the departments of Planning and Investment, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, and the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue to consider and coordinate with the locality to promptly resolve the issue.
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| Unable to wait for the project, two households had to find land to relocate their houses. Photo: My Ha |
The People's Committee of Con Cuong district then established a project to urgently relocate households in the landslide disaster area in Bung Xat village with a total estimated investment of 20 billion VND. Accordingly, there are 2 options: Option 1, arranging stable housing for 17 relocated households at their old residence if after the landslide area is treated, it ensures safety and long-term stability. Option 2, arranging stable housing for 17 relocated households at a new residence in a concentrated resettlement area, or interspersed depending on the actual situation of the local land fund.
In addition, the local government also came up with a plan to deal with the crack. Regarding this, there were also two options proposed, the first option was to handle it by embanking rocks to retain the soil and avoid damaging the traffic route. The second option was to use dynamite to blow up the rock mass. However, a year has passed, and both the resettlement arrangements for households and the crack treatment are still on paper. Meanwhile, Con Cuong district has been granted more than 600 million VND to handle this crack.
Mr. Kha Van Thuong - Chairman of Chau Khe Commune People's Committee said that the local government really wants to soon arrange resettlement for these households. Of the 17 households, 2 households in the most dangerous category could not wait any longer and had to find land to relocate. They were then helped by villagers contributing materials and labor to build new houses. "Now, if we leave it like this, the people will suffer and the officials will suffer too. Every time it rains, we have to run, the officials have to be on duty and then go to mobilize the evacuation. Everyone is tired. But up to now, we have not been able to get a policy for resettlement," said Mr. Thuong.