Across the Mekong Delta localities, landslides are fierce and overwhelming. The whole region has at least 50 landslides recorded since the beginning of the year. Although not causing damage to people, but has made people living along the river always worried. Photo: A landslide scene in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City.

Not only washed away houses, landslides also penetrated the mainland, disrupting many traffic routes, making  people's travel difficult.

Mr. Tran Thanh Bi, Thanh Binh district, Dong Thap province, said: "If before, landslides occurred only during the rainy season, now has occurred in the dry season with unprecedented severity. I lived for more than 50 years in the countryside, along the river, but now I don't know where to go. " Photo: A riverbank eroded house in Dong Thap is being demolished and relocated.



According to VNDMA, every year, people in the Mekong Delta need an additional 18 million m2 of housing. In great demand, many people risk their lives to build houses along rivers and canals even though they know landslides can sweep property and houses at any time. Local authorities are also worry because the situation of building houses along the river has become a custom of the people. This is one of 5 main causes of landslides in the Mekong Delta.

Up to now, there are more than 1,000 households in the whole Mekong Delta need to be moved out of the danger zone of landslides. However, due to the custom of building houses and living along the river, some people later returned to their old places, causing the local authorities to ... "give up".

Mr. Nguyen Van Ut, Thoi Lai district, Can Tho city said: After months of hot weather, the rain has come continuously. It seemed cool and revived the field plants, everyone was afraid to storm, causing my house to be unroofed. "The weather is very extreme now, every year, almost every thunderstorm occurs in this area" - Mr. Ut shared.

In the first 5 months of 2020, there were 2 tornadoes in Can Tho city; 15 points of river bank erosion; many heavy rains, accompanied by thunderstorms, damaged over 200 houses. 2 people with lightning died. Estimated total loss of over 11.6 billion. Photo: A house was damaged by a tornado in Thoi Lai district on May 30.

In the face of extreme weather events, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control directs provinces and cities in the Southern region and the Mekong Delta to quickly review and formulate disaster response plans corresponding to risk levels; have a plan to prevent natural disasters as well as a plan to cope with heavy rain with tornadoes, landslides, strong storms and super typhoons ... All must take the motto "Proactively prevent, respond promptly and promptly urgent and effective recovery, in which, taking room, avoiding is the main ". Photo: People and authorities are supporting the relocation of a house collapsed due to thunderstorms.