The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held a meeting in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on Friday to discuss plans to map out areas

Prolonged heavy rains cause flooding in early July this year in the northern province of Lai Chau. A meeting to discuss plans to map out areas most at risk of flash floods and landslides has been held.

In addition, the map will set out the amount of rainfall that is likely to lead to landslides.

Vu Van Luat, head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department’s Water Resources Office in Lao Cai Vu Van Luat, who attended the meeting, said: “Our province is one of the most vulnerable to flash floods and landslides.”

Provincial authorities have relocated 238 households from landslide-prone areas. Last year, it moved 364 households.

“There are about 670 areas most at risk from landslides. Some 260 out of a total population of 300,000 need to be evacuated,” Luat said.

Flash floods and landslides in the province have caused losses estimated at VND150 billion (US$8.5 million).

As many as 34 households in Pa Ve Su commune in Muong Te district have been warned to leave landslide-prone areas, according to secretary of the district’s Party Committee Tong Thanh Hai.

On Wednesday, 19 households considered most vulnerable to landslides were moved to a safer area.

Another 15 households would be moved when suitable accommodation were found, Hai said.

The evacuation was ordered after two large cracks in the ground were found in the commune on June 28. Ly Go Me, 29, a local resident, fell into the crack close to Nam Si Luong river and was buried alive. People at the scene could not pull her out.

Hai said the district had given VND5 million ($285) to each evacuated household to cover the cost of relocating.

The district also gave 15 kilos of rice to each person evacuated.

Local authorities handed out VND5.5 million ($286) to families of four people who died in recent landslides in Nam Hang and Pa Ve Su communes.

In recent days, prolonged heavy rain has fallen in the province. Pa Ve Su has almost evacuated everyone deemed to be at risk.

According to chairman of Phong Tho District People’s Committee Tran Van Que, 96 households out of a total of 200 in Tung Qua Lin commune have been moved from landslide-prone areas.

“People are worried about continual rain in the last few days, which can destroy their property,” he said.

Just over a month ago, a whirlwind pulled down a house and a flash flood affected five others, he said.

“Fortunately, rescue forces were mobilised to move all the households out of dangerous areas,” he said.

In Sin Chai village, Dao San commune, which is four kilometres from Tung Qua Lin commune, a landslide after heavy rain wiped out a family of three.

Que said the district has given each household VND7 million ($400) to build a new house in a safer area.

In addition, 15 kilos of rice will be given to each person, which should last three months.

Luat said evacuation work had been hampered by a shortage of funds. The province has been allocated VND100 billion ($5.7 million) to relocate families.

“Support from the Government is not enough to cover the expense of the evacuation. Last year, the province received VND5 billion ($285,700) from the central budget,” he said.

He said residents were also reluctant to leave their farms.

“People are used to farming near their houses. Therefore, if they move they will be a long way from their fields, maybe one to five kilometres,” Luat said.

In an effort to encourage residents to relocate, Phong Tho district authority has launched a publicity campaign.

“Video of landslides in Bat Xat district, in the northern province of Lao Cai, have also been shown,” he said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News