Urgently evacuate households in landslide area in Coc Pai

Since the beginning of 2024, in Coc Pai area, Pa Vay Su commune, there have been more than 10 high-risk landslides, directly threatening the lives and property of dozens of households. Local authorities are urgently proposing many temporary response plans, but in the long term, the problem of safe resettlement is still a major concern.

Danger lurks

At around 1:00 a.m. on July 1, 2025, heavy rain caused a landslide in a stone embankment area with a length of 30m and a height of about 15m. This stone embankment is a barrier belonging to Xin Man Regional General Hospital, and at the same time protects the living area of 5 households in residential group 4, Pa Vay Su commune. The sudden landslide buried a motorbike, broke a 0.4kV power line, completely felled an electric pole, collapsed the corrugated iron roof of a house, and tilted a 4-seat car. Immediately afterwards, the People's Committee of Pa Vay Su commune mobilized forces to respond and move people and property out of the danger zone. Up to now, 2 weeks have passed but the landslide location is still at risk as more cracks have begun to appear. Currently, to ensure safety at night, households have to take shelter at the houses of acquaintances or move to another safe area.

Comrade Duong Viet Hung (second from right), Chairman of Pa Vay Su Commune People's Committee, discussed and grasped the thoughts and aspirations of households in areas at high risk of landslides.

Ms. Tran Thi Hue , a resident in the area, worried: Property can still be moved, but life is very fragile. I hope the locality will have a solution sooner so that people can feel secure and stabilize their lives...

Not far away, the house of Mr. Tran Van Giang's family is also located in an area at risk of landslides. After many years of saving and scrimping, in 2024 he was able to build a spacious house worth nearly 2 billion VND, which is now also located on a landslide strip. Mr. Giang sadly said: "Behind my house is a mountain, with a lot of underground water flowing. When the authorities informed me that my house was in an area at risk of landslides, I was very worried. It is difficult to stay or go. If you want to be safe, you have to move, but I don't know how to start over?"

The problem needs to be solved soon.

On March 24, 2025, the People's Committee of Ha Giang province (old) announced a natural disaster emergency in Coc Pai. Currently, 47 households with nearly 200 people are in the area at high risk of landslides. Chairman of Pa Vay Su Commune People's Committee, Duong Viet Hung, said: "The locality has coordinated with the Institute of Hydropower and Renewable Energy to survey and delineate landslide areas, and at the same time build documents for 3 relocation and remediation projects. One option is to resettle in Thinh Tang village, expected to have an area of 15 hectares, arranging resettlement for about 100 households; the backup option in Coc Pu village is expected to have an area of 10 hectares, arranging resettlement for 140 households; along with engineering solutions such as dredging sewers, placing warning signs, and building embankments to prevent landslides".

Currently, the province has allocated 20 billion VND for investment preparation work such as geological research, documentation, land and property compensation in the resettlement area... In the immediate future, the commune will compile a list of households in areas at risk of landslides and solicit public opinions. At the same time, it will place warning signs at areas at high risk of landslides and prepare concentrated accommodation to ensure safety during prolonged heavy rains so that households can evacuate urgently during prolonged heavy rains.

According to the People's Committee of Pa Vay Su commune, the resettlement land fund is expected to be located in an area with stable geology, close to the main traffic axis, convenient for farming and livelihood. However, investment procedures, site clearance, and infrastructure construction require large resources and timely implementation to meet the needs and safety of the people.

While waiting for the projects to be implemented, many households in Coc Pai still live in anxiety day and night as the rainy season is entering its peak. More than ever, the people here expect the authorities at all levels to quickly resolve the problems, to soon stabilize the people's lives.

Article and photos: Van Long

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202507/khan-truong-di-doi-cac-ho-dantrong-khu-vuc-sat-truot-o-coc-pai-9096dea/