Điện Biên moves households away from threat of landslides

ĐIỆN BIÊN — Households at risk from landslides and flash floods in the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên are still waiting to be relocated to safe areas.

According to authorities, dozens of communes are at high risk of landslides.

The communes are located in the districts of Điện Biên, Điện Biên Đông, Mường Chà, Mường Nhé, Nậm Pồ and Mường Lay.

Trần Hà Sơn, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Điện Biên Province was not directly affected by storms, but natural disasters such as flash floods and landslides occured frequently, especially in the rainy season.

In order to minimise the damage caused by natural disasters, the provincial Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Steering Committee has directed local authorities to relocate households from high risk areas.

In 2018, the province has been allocated VNĐ2 billion (nearly US$87,000) to support the relocation of 100 households.

By the end of June, the province had moved 47 households, way below the target of 660.

The province has been assessing how many households need to be relocated, but due to the limited budget, progress remains slow. — VNS