Soc Trang repairs damaged dykes

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Soc Trang has allocated VND2.5 billion ($118,750) to fix a part of sea dyke damaged last month in the province's Vinh Chau Town.

Nguyen Trung Hieu, chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said that local authorities would continue to reinforce other dyke sections to prevent further breach incidents.


He urged local authorities to intensify afforestation and construct sea walls to reduce the damaging effect of waves and high sea levels caused by climate change.

On March 17, flood tides, strong winds and big waves blew off 10 metres of a dyke in Vinh Hai Commune in the province.

The dyke section is now heavily eroded at its foundation, and the protective forest outside it was also swept away.

Since last August, the town has reinforced the dyke section four times but this has proved ineffective.

Phan Thanh Hieu, chairman of Vinh Chau Town's People's Committee, said the town had 52 kilometres of dyke, of which seven sections faced a high risk of collapse.

The town had reinforced them with stone as a temporary solution and the authorities should upgrade the dyke system to ensure safety for residents in the area, he said.