VietNamNet Bridge - One of the most obvious impacts of climate change on coastal Quang Binh province in the central region is erosion, which has caused landslides and destruction of embankments, threatening people’s property and livelihoods.  

The climate in Quang Binh is severe

The climate in Quang Binh is severe. The rainy season coincides with the typhoon season. Every year, Quang Binh sustains one to two storms with the frequency and intensity increasing.

The areas along the coast and tributaries bear many storms with a wind speed of over 30m per second which causes serious coastal erosion. 

People in Canh Duong commune of Quang Trach district have been living in a state of suspense because of strong winds, sea waves and typhoons.

Locals have lost land for cultivation and have seen their livelihoods threatened. 

“Nature will destroy Canh Duong sea village. It is foreseeable,” said Nguyen Van Tu, a fisherman. “The sea this time invaded 20 meters more than in 2016.”

According to Pham Dinh Tien, chair of Canh Duong commune, due to a limited budget, it is difficult to build a sea embankment system. However, Quang Binh provincial authorities have agreed to allocate a budget VND9 billion to build breakwaters in 2018. 

Landscape in danger

Nhat Le Beach is considered one of the 10 most beautiful beaches of Vietnam and is the tourism center of Dong Hoi City. However, it suffers from serious landslides.

The most affected area is Nhat Le 2 in Hai Thanh Ward with a landslide of 400 meters long. Shops and houses along the beach are in danger of being swallowed by the sea. There is a concrete embankment in some areas, but strong sea waves have damaged it.

The most affected area is Nhat Le 2 in Hai Thanh Ward with a landslide of 400 meters long. Shops and houses along the beach are in danger of being swallowed by the sea. There is a concrete embankment in some areas, but strong sea waves have damaged it.

Pham Xuan Khanh, a local resident, said he had never seen such a serious landslide before in Nhat Le. 

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thanh Long from the provincial Department of Irrigation and Flood Control, said after the 10th and 11th storms, damage occurred along the coast stretching three kilometers long and tens of meters wide.

As local people have appropriated coastal areas to make room for restaurants, the casuarina forest, which prevents sand erosion, has been cleared, making it difficult to restore land.

Sea storms attacked the Nhat Le coastal area in 1985. And 30 years later, this happened again, causing serious erosion. Many solutions have been suggested, but they have not been implemented.

Officials estimate rehabilitation of the areas would cost VND100 billion.