THUA THIEN-HUE – The central province of Thua Thien-Hue has been allocated nearly VND4.2 billion ($200.000) to resettle 330 vulnerable households at risk of floods and landslides.

The people in coastal and river areas would be moved to safe areas before the rainy season this year, provincial authorities said.

Thua Thien-Hue had 127km of coastline, about 25 per cent of which was hit by frequent landslides while Thuan An and Tu Hien estuaries were particularly susceptible to erosion, affecting socio-economic conditions and threatening lives, the authorities said.

Seawater had encroached more each year on the districts of Phu Vang and Huong Tra.

In the area of Hai Duong-Hoa Duan, the sea had moved 100m inland over 4km of the coastal fringe. The resulting erosion had damaged local infrastructure, caused the collapse of lighthouses and, at Thuan An Beach, had washed several motels and houses out to sea, threatening the lives and livelihoods of local people.

Similar problems were occurring in other locations on the coast and rivers of the province.

To prepare for the wet season from August to November, the province's flood and storm control committee had ordered dykes to be built using sandbags and rocks. Trees had also been planted as wave barriers.

Most localities had improved rescue equipment for volunteers, including boats and life jackets, to prepare for storms.

But in the long run, the authorities said, concrete embankments would have to be built along rivers and in coastal areas or residents would have to be moved to safer places. – VNS