Landslides threaten Điện Biên residents

A big crack is seen in a house in Tìa Dình C Hamlet, Tìa Dình Co妹妹une in the northern province of Điện Biên. — VNA/VNS Photo Phan Tuấn Anh

ĐIỆN BIÊN — Forty families in Tìa Dình C Hamlet in Tìa Dình Co妹妹une, the northern province of Điện Biên, are living in fear of landslides as cracks have appeared and expanded in the ground surrounding their homes.

Since September,  二0 一 四, the first cracks stretching of hundreds of metres appeared in the hamlet, damaging local residents’ houses and other construction work. As of this month, four houses have collapsed because of the cracks.

Giàng A Sinh, vice chairman of Tìa Dình Co妹妹une People’s Co妹妹ittee said that the cracks were putting local residents and infrastructure at risk, with more new cracks appearing.

The cracks are usually  二0- 三0 cm wide, even up to  五0 cm, and  一. 五- 二 metres deep.

“Some houses in the affected area have started to lean,” he said, adding that it was urgent to evacuate  四 四 families living in the area.

“Local authorities called on people to move to safer areas,” he said.

The cracks also affected Tìa Dình Boarding Primary School which is now the home of about  四 六0 students and teachers.

The school principal Ngô Văn Vinh said cracks appeared on walls and floors subsided.

“Students now have to study in the storehouses or canteen,” he said.

Thào Thị Pà said since the cracks appeared in the hamlet, people had been living in fear.

Torrential rain earlier this month had worsened the issue, she said. — VNS