After the rainy season of 2024, a large sliding surface appeared on the mountainside behind Háng Sông Trên village (Xa Dung commune). In the past two weeks, persistent heavy rain has caused the slide to expand further, with cracks as wide as 50cm and subsidence of 30-40cm in depth, creating a serious landslide risk that directly threatens the lives and property of 17 households living below. Faced with this urgent situation, Xa Dung commune reported immediately to the provincial People’s Committee. On July 21, Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lò Văn Cương inspected the site and directed response efforts at the high-risk area in Háng Sông Trên. Assessing the landslide risk as extremely high, the Deputy Chairman instructed functional agencies and local authorities to quickly implement emergency plans to protect the safety of the people and their property.

Xa Dung commune then convened a village meeting to inform, mobilize, and persuade residents to evacuate. The commune required households to urgently move people and property out of the danger zone and strictly avoid staying in the village during heavy rains. Given that most households face difficulties in terms of land availability, manpower, and materials for building temporary shelters, the commune People’s Committee allocated a temporary resettlement site near the village, provided tarpaulins, and mobilized local forces to assist in moving residents to temporary accommodations.

According to Sùng A Măng, Chairman of the Xa Dung commune People’s Committee, the sliding surface behind Háng Sông Trên poses a direct threat to 17 households and a local preschool. The commune mobilized teams to the village to raise awareness and assist residents in moving people, belongings, and livestock out of the hazardous zone. To date, all 17 households have been relocated to a safe area and completed the construction of temporary shelters. The commune has stationed working groups in the village to remind residents to remain alert and strictly avoid returning while weather conditions remain unpredictable.

The temporary housing site for the 17 households of Háng Sông Trên is located not far from the village, on flat but rather limited land. The shelters are built from bamboo and covered with tarpaulins, with just enough space for sleeping and storing a few essential items. Although living conditions are still difficult and inconvenient, this is the safest option in the face of the landslide threat.

Like the other households in Háng Sông Trên, the family of eight belonging to Vàng Nhè Sềnh has moved into the temporary housing arranged by Xa Dung commune to avoid landslide danger. Despite the cramped and basic conditions, Mr. Sềnh and his family strictly comply with the arrangements and guidance of local authorities. “The mountain behind our home has many large cracks and the risk of a landslide is very high. Everyone in the village is worried. When the commune People’s Committee informed us of the danger and told us to evacuate, we all complied immediately. It’s hard, but for my family’s safety, we must adapt,” he shared.

Since the start of the rainy season, Hạ A Dế, head of Háng Sông Trên village, has had to sound the emergency gong multiple times to alert residents to evacuate the danger zone, sometimes in the middle of the night. “In recent days, after finishing the temporary shelters, people can return to the village to work during the day, but in the evening we require everyone to leave and sleep at the safe site arranged by the commune. The sliding surface appeared two years ago and keeps expanding, directly threatening lives. The biggest wish of the people now is for the authorities to arrange permanent, safe housing so they can live and work with peace of mind,” he said.

Chairman Sùng A Măng further noted that after the inspection by the Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, the Regional Project Management and Land Fund Development Board No.2 surveyed the area to propose a resettlement project for households in the high-risk landslide zone in Háng Sông Trên. The commune is now coordinating closely with relevant agencies to complete the necessary documents and procedures. Local authorities hope the project will soon be approved and implemented so that people can be relocated to safe, permanent housing.

In Mường Luân commune, heavy rains from the night of July 26 to the morning of July 27 caused flash floods that severely damaged houses, property, and crops. Many areas face high landslide risks and require urgent evacuation. The family of Lường Văn Sam from Huổi Hu village is among those severely affected, with their home badly damaged by a landslide, forcing them to relocate. “Thanks to the timely support of the authorities and rescue forces, my family was moved to safety. Although we lost property, thankfully everyone is safe,” he said. According to Nguyễn Trọng Huế, Chairman of the Mường Luân commune People’s Committee, all households in high-risk landslide areas have been evacuated to safety. The commune is now working with forces to mobilize all available resources to address the disaster’s aftermath and quickly stabilize residents’ lives.

Xa Dung and Mường Luân are just two of the communes with multiple high-risk landslide sites due to the recent heavy rains and floods. For now, local authorities have urgently implemented evacuation plans, arranged temporary housing, and ensured the safety of residents. They are also assessing and recording damage to provide timely assistance and help people gradually recover. In the long term, communes are proposing that the provincial People’s Committee review and approve sustainable resettlement plans to ensure safety and stable livelihoods for residents in disaster-prone areas.