Sink holes have been appearing over the past month in the Cho Don District of the northern mountain province of Bac Kan. (Photo: vnexpress.net) Bac Kan (VNA) - Sink holes have been appearing overthe past month in the Cho Don District of the northern mountain province of BacKan, generating anxiety among local residents.
According to a preliminary survey by the district’s People’sCommittee, more than 20 holes were found in the district, with each measuring2-5 metres in width and 2-3 metres in depth.
Ban Tan hamlet in Bang Lung town has suffered the most. It hasrecorded more than 10 land subsidence spots. Some of the sinkholes appeared insprings, diverting all their water under ground. Over the past 10 days, somesprings in the district have dried up, leading to water shortage for dailyactivities as well as irrigation.
Cracks have also appeared, with some measuring hundreds ofmetres in length.
Hoang Van Trieu, a farmer in Ban Tan hamlet, said he was veryanxious because big holes appeared in his fishing ponds while cracks wererecorded in his garden, fields and the foundation of his house.
He said the fishpond was still full of water, with around 200kg offish. However, the following day, a big hole appeared in the middle of the pondand all the water and fish were gone.
Land subsidence was also recorded in Bang Lang and Ngoc Phaicommunes. In the latest case, three sink holes appeared in a field in Ngoc Phaicommune, measuring five metres in width and 3-6 metres in depth.
According to local authorities, this is not the first suchoccurence in these areas. However, this time the incidents have been morenumerous and serious.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Natural Resourcesand Environment, Tran Nguyen, said a study showed that one of the reasons forthe land subsidence was ground water pumping and the karst topography, which iscommon throughout northern and central Vietnam.
According to scientists, underground caverns usually develop inkarst terrain. External disruptions, such as well drilling, excavation andfoundation construction can cause the caverns to collapse.
The provincial People’s Committee is working with relevantagencies on measures to address the problem.-VNA
According to a preliminary survey by the district’s People’sCommittee, more than 20 holes were found in the district, with each measuring2-5 metres in width and 2-3 metres in depth.
Ban Tan hamlet in Bang Lung town has suffered the most. It hasrecorded more than 10 land subsidence spots. Some of the sinkholes appeared insprings, diverting all their water under ground. Over the past 10 days, somesprings in the district have dried up, leading to water shortage for dailyactivities as well as irrigation.
Cracks have also appeared, with some measuring hundreds ofmetres in length.
Hoang Van Trieu, a farmer in Ban Tan hamlet, said he was veryanxious because big holes appeared in his fishing ponds while cracks wererecorded in his garden, fields and the foundation of his house.
He said the fishpond was still full of water, with around 200kg offish. However, the following day, a big hole appeared in the middle of the pondand all the water and fish were gone.
Land subsidence was also recorded in Bang Lang and Ngoc Phaicommunes. In the latest case, three sink holes appeared in a field in Ngoc Phaicommune, measuring five metres in width and 3-6 metres in depth.
According to local authorities, this is not the first suchoccurence in these areas. However, this time the incidents have been morenumerous and serious.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Natural Resourcesand Environment, Tran Nguyen, said a study showed that one of the reasons forthe land subsidence was ground water pumping and the karst topography, which iscommon throughout northern and central Vietnam.
According to scientists, underground caverns usually develop inkarst terrain. External disruptions, such as well drilling, excavation andfoundation construction can cause the caverns to collapse.
The provincial People’s Committee is working with relevantagencies on measures to address the problem.-VNA
VNA
