For the past three days, large ocean swells have hit Hoi An city’s shoreline, dismantling hundreds of meters of dykes, buildings, and trees. Physical damage is expected to reach billions of dong. According to residents, this has been the most severe coastal erosion for the past three decades, wearing away tens of meters of land each day. In less than three years, the ocean has eaten away nearly 1 kilometer, practically wiping out Cửa Đại beach.
This severe erosion has is wreaking havoc on local tourism and threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of households in the area.
Local authorities are trying to mitigate the impacts of erosion. However, as of now, all measures have been temporary.
Huge funds will be needed to protect and restore Cua Dai Beach. In the meantime, temporary mitigation and adaptive measures will have to suffice.
