Thái Nguyên: Người dân sống trong sợ hãi dưới chân đồi sạt lở, tự xây kè trăm triệu vẫn phải dời đi

Key Concepts

• Landslide Remediation Project: A government-funded initiative intended to stabilize slopes and prevent soil movement.
• Retaining Wall: A structure designed to hold back soil and prevent landslides, which in this case proved insufficient.
• Emergency Project Stalling: The suspension of construction due to logistical and administrative hurdles.
• Geological Instability: The ongoing risk of soil and rock collapse at the foot of Ong Dong hill.

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1. Overview of the Landslide Crisis

Residents of Phan Dinh Phung ward, Thai Nguyen province, are facing a severe crisis due to recurring landslides from Ong Dong hill. The instability, which intensified following Typhoon Rai, has resulted in the destruction of property, with multiple homes having their first floors completely buried under mud, rocks, and debris. Many families have been forced to abandon their homes, while those remaining live in constant fear, particularly during heavy rainfall.

2. Real-World Impact and Case Studies

• Ms. Huyen’s Residence: The first floor of her home was buried by a landslide occurring at midnight last October. She currently resides on the second floor but expresses deep anxiety, noting that the structure remains vulnerable to further collapse.
• Mr. Quang’s Experience: Residents have attempted self-help measures, such as spending over a million VND to construct private brick embankments. However, these makeshift solutions have failed to withstand the pressure of heavy rains and shifting soil, leading to further damage.
• Scope of Damage: Aerial assessments indicate that approximately 30 houses are located at the foot of Ong Dong hill, with over a dozen structures directly impacted by landslide activity.

3. The Stalled Remediation Project

The People’s Committee of Phan Dinh Phung ward confirmed that an emergency project to address the landslides was approved by the former Thai Nguyen city administration in 2024.

• Current Status: The project is only 60% complete.
• Primary Obstacle: Construction has been stalled for over a year due to the inability to reach agreements with landowners on the hill. These agreements are necessary to create access roads for heavy machinery to reach the construction site.
• Proposed Timeline: Local authorities have committed to reporting and securing approval for a construction security plan by May 15th to mitigate risks before the peak of the upcoming rainy season.

4. Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Resident Perspective: Residents emphasize that human life is the priority. The psychological toll is significant, with families reporting that they are too afraid to even open their doors during rainstorms. They argue that the current pace of government intervention is insufficient to protect their lives and property.
• Administrative Perspective: The local government acknowledges the emergency nature of the situation but cites land access rights as the primary bottleneck preventing the completion of the retaining structures.

5. Notable Statements

• Resident (Ms. Huyen): "If it rains heavily and the whole hillside collapses, then human lives are the most important thing, so my whole family is moving out."
• Local Authority Representative: "Our specific plan is to report to the local authorities to get approval for the construction security plan before May 15th to ensure the safety of residents' homes."

6. Synthesis and Conclusion

The situation in Phan Dinh Phung ward represents a critical failure in disaster mitigation infrastructure. Despite the approval of an emergency project, bureaucratic and logistical challenges regarding land access have left residents in a state of perpetual danger. The reliance on temporary, self-built embankments has proven ineffective against the geological instability of Ong Dong hill. The immediate priority for local authorities is to resolve the land access disputes and finalize the construction of professional retaining walls before the rainy season, as the current state of the homes—many still buried by previous landslides—poses an imminent threat to human life.