Dozens of households in Quy Nhon City in the southern coastal province of Binh Dinh have constantly been living in fear of possible landslides during flood season.
Dozens of households in Quy Nhon City have constantly been living in fear of possible landslides during flood season.
There are dozens of households living on a mountainous road in Dong Da Ward. Their houses lean against Mot Mountain which has seen serious landslides whenever it rains.
Despite living in danger when the flooding season arrives, local residents, who are mostly poor farmers, still choose to stay because they live off farming in the area.
Lying by her 30-metre-square house, Nguyen Thi Le Thuy said that she didn't dare to sleep during heavy rains or storms.
Nguyen Thi Le Thuy (front) at her house
"Our houses can be buried or swept away if landslides occur on the mountain," the 60-year-old woman said. "Some four houses have collapsed during landslides here. Luckily there were no injuries."
Thuy said that they couldn't afford to move anywhere else and build new houses, and whenever they heard about storms and heavy rains, they all have to stay alert about landslides and be ready to be evacuated.
Next door to Thuy's house, Nguyen Thi Gai earns her living by selling lottery tickets.
"I'm ill and I’ve had to stay at home for the past three months," Gai said. "I live alone and so I'm very scared whenever the rainy season comes."
A house owned by Nguyen Thi Tuyet Thu nearly collapsed and her family had to move out
Meanwhile, a nearby house owned by Nguyen Thi Tuyet Thu nearly collapsed and her family had to move out.
According to the Dong Da Ward People's Committee, there are 130 households living in simply-built houses in vulnerable areas in the locality. Among them, dozens of households living by Mot Mountain need to urgently relocate due to the threat of landslides.
Chairman of Dong Da Ward People's Committee, Phan Tan Vu, said that they have had to set up rescue teams to help evacuate residents in the area during natural disasters.
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