Heavy rain and flooding since early October have caused severe erosion along the Tra Khuc River in Tra Giang Commune, washing away farmland and leaving steep, unstable riverbanks.
In An Lac Village, large sections of land have collapsed into the river, forming cliffs five to seven metres high. Acacia trees, cassava crops and protective bamboo groves have been uprooted or swept away.
Cracks continue to appear along the riverbank, forcing residents to harvest crops prematurely to limit further losses.
Nguyen Thi Lien, a resident of An Lac Village, said her family had lost around 1,000 square metres of its 2,000-square-metre farmland following flooding in 2025 and heavy rain this October.
With newly planted acacia trees collapsing into the river, she has been forced to harvest immature trees to salvage what remains.
Another resident, Mai Dinh Me, said erosion had advanced around 20 metres inland along stretches of the riverbank, destroying bamboo barriers previously used to protect farmland.
Residents have called for a permanent embankment to safeguard their homes and livelihoods.
According to Tra Giang Commune authorities, erosion along more than one kilometre of riverbank in An Lac Village has destroyed three hectares of farmland belonging to 30 households since early October.
Local officials have reported the damage to provincial authorities and warned residents to avoid farming, harvesting or travelling near unstable riverbanks.
Elsewhere in Tra Giang Commune, more than one kilometre of riverbank near Village 6 and An Tay Village is also experiencing serious erosion.
In some locations, the riverbank has retreated to within 10-20 metres of Road 623B, threatening the road and 24 nearby households.
Nguyen Tan Duong, a resident of An Tay Village, said the riverbank retreats by five to seven metres each year, forcing families to evacuate during the rainy season.
Residents have repeatedly reinforced the banks with stones and branches, but the erosion has continued.
Tra Giang Commune Chairman Vo Dinh Hung attributed the problem to the river's curved course, weak soil and strong currents during floods.
He said erosion intensified during the 2025 rainy season, destroying agricultural land and bringing the river dangerously close to residential areas and transport infrastructure.
On December 4, 2025, Quang Ngai authorities declared the erosion affecting Village 6 and An Tay Village a natural disaster emergency, identifying risks to 24 households and Road 623B.
However, permanent remedial measures have yet to be implemented.
Local authorities and residents are calling for urgent provincial funding to reinforce the riverbanks and protect homes, farmland and essential infrastructure.
