Tidal erosion topples Quang Binh homes

High tides and floods have led to the collapse of more than 10 houses in Quang Binh Province\'s Bo Trach District. Hundreds of households have also been evacuated.

Early last month, dozens of people in the north-central province were killed in the worst flooding in decades.

In coastal Nhan Trach Commune, located at the estuary of Dinh River, the turbulent sea has eaten into 50 metres of waterfront land over a distance of 2km. Authorities blame climate change for contributing to the problem.

"We heard a deafening bang while sleeping about a month ago," said Nguyen Thi Lac, 47, who lives on the northern bank of the river.

"No sooner had I taken my children out of the house than it totally collapsed and was swept away by the sea," she added.

Lac said that when she moved to the site more than 20 years ago, the sea was about 30 metres away, but it had been advancing further inland year after year.

Shortly before last month\'s floods, villagers on both sides of the river spent their own money fortifying the length of the estuary with concrete.

However, when the floods hit, the combination of sea water and river floodwaters undermined the new embankment in a matter of weeks. Commune workers installed 3,000 sand bags along the river banks to prevent further erosion.

Coastal villagers living only a few metres from the estuary or sea front are now living in fear.

Villages on either bank of the river and even the communal centre had been all invaded by sea water, said deputy chairman of the commune\'s People\'s Committee Vo Hong Thai.

More than 50 families involving about 300 people had been relocated to safer ground, he added.

Phan Van Gon, chairman of Bo Trach District People\'s Committee, said that a plan to relocate all households in danger zones was being developed.

He said that each family losing a house to the sea would be given VND6 million (US$300).

Head of the provincial embankment department Nguyen Ngoc Giai attributed the erosion to extreme weather caused by climate change.

"Heavy downpours combined with strong monsoonal winds have added to the already high tides," he said.

"The sea next to the coastline gets deeper and deeper every year."

A new embankment is now being built on the northern bank of the river at a cost of VND18 billion ($900,000). Similar work may also be carried out on the southern bank.

Gon complained that the cost of building sea embankments was about VND25 billion ($1.25 million) per kilometre.