Seven houses in HCM City’s Binh Chanh district on July 1 night fell into Saigon River due to land erosion, causing many people to become homeless.

Fortunately, no human casualties were reported in the incident. Of the seven collapsed houses, four completely felt into the river. Some other houses are also facing possible collapses due to the widening cracks on their walls. Nearly 100 people in that area have been affected by the landslides.

According to local people, it rained heavily on the afternoon of July 1. Their houses collapsed in swift-flowing river. However, they confirmed that the major reason was impacts from sand barges.

Local officials said that all the collapsed houses were located on an area that was scheduled to be cleared for a construction project.

He added local authorities had seen cracks in the walls of some of the houses one week before the accident and warned households along the river about the growing danger of collapses; however, local residents haven’t moved yet.

Local authorities have provided each affected household with VND2 million (US$100) while many benefactors also donated money to them.

Close-up of collapsed houses:

PV