Tears of stormy season on land at high risk of landslides

In recent days, the prolonged heavy rains caused by storm No. 5 have once again made Thanh Mai hamlet, Mai Ha commune, live in a state of anxiety and worry. For 42 households and 165 people here, the storm is not just a passing natural disaster. It is also a dark shadow weighing down on every roof, hanging over their heads like a danger that could strike at any moment...

Cracks on the high hill behind the houses of more than 40 households in Thanh Mai hamlet during the rains caused by storm No. 5 (Kajiki) show signs of continuing to widen.

Haunting from the crack on the hill

Since Typhoon No. 3 ( Yagi ) in 2024, after heavy rains, people discovered many long cracks on the hillside. One of the cracks formed a landslide arc about 120m long, 40cm to 70cm wide, and up to 1.4m deep at some points. The distance from the crack to the nearest household is only 40m. There is a risk that thousands of cubic meters of rock and soil will hang upside down like an upside-down sword, just waiting for more rain, more loose soil, and then collapse. If that happens, all 42 houses below will be buried in a moment.

Mai Ha commune authorities inspected cracks that pose a risk of sliding down to the houses of residents in Thanh Mai hamlet.

Mr. Nguyen Van Mau, Head of Thanh Mai Hamlet, said in a heavy voice: Since 2024, every time there has been heavy rain, people have had to evacuate. Mud from the hills has flowed over the foundations of people's houses. Since the beginning of 2025, people have had to clean up and move their belongings several times to avoid being buried by rocks and soil. When storm No. 5 came, once again the whole hamlet had almost no sleep at night.

At many points, rocks and soil from the high hills have slid down the walls of houses of households (photo: rocks and soil from the high hills have slid down the house of Mr. Le Van Chien)

On the wet ground of the hill slope behind his house, Mr. Ngo Van Minh still tried to add a few more sacks of soil to the previously reinforced concrete wall. But the mud from the hillside still rushed through as if there were no obstacles. He sighed: People and property have been moved to another place, but his heart feels like it is on fire. He is only afraid that if the rain continues for a few more days, the giant mass of earth and rock will collapse, and the house that he has saved up for many years will be lost. Similarly, the houses of Mr. Le Van Chien and Mr. Nguyen Trung Tam also suffer from the mud flowing through their houses. Every time it rains, every time a thunderclap in the distance, the whole family is startled and worried. The temporary life, evacuating from one place to another makes the children tired, and the adults burdened with their livelihood. Ms. Ngan Thi Thao, the owner of a clothing store in the neighborhood, shared with red eyes: Every time it rains, we have to run. No one buys our goods, customers don't dare come. We don't dare stay in our houses. Every storm passes, leaving only tears. We people do not know how to live if this situation continues.

Constant insecurity

Not only the risk from the cracks, the mud flows every time it rains are enough to scare the people. Every night when it rains heavily, the whole village stays up almost all night, trying to listen for every strange sound in the ground. Every family has their backpacks, clothes, and belongings ready. Just when there is an order, they can carry each other to the evacuation point. Mr. Nguyen Van Mau, Head of Thanh Mai village, shared: People now no longer have faith in their homes. We live in a state of insecurity, always standing on the edge of a cliff. That feeling has become an obsession. Some households have just packed up and returned home for a few days before having to carry each other and run away again. The vicious cycle of evacuation - return - then evacuation again has turned life upside down.

Facing the risk of landslides due to the impact of heavy rain during storm No. 5, the People's Committee of Mai Ha commune mobilized forces to support people in moving their belongings to a safe place.

Faced with the dangerous situation, the Mai Hich commune authorities promptly deployed emergency measures. Comrade Ha Tuan Hai, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: With the spirit of people's safety being paramount, as soon as storm No. 5 began to affect, the commune mobilized police and military forces to coordinate with local militia to support the evacuation of households. By 4:00 p.m. on August 24, 2025, all people in high-risk areas had been moved to safe shelters. Not only that, the commune also arranged forces to stretch ropes, put up warning signs, and set up guard posts to prevent people from returning to dangerous areas. Officers and police took turns on duty to protect property and goods so that people could evacuate with peace of mind. However, that was only a temporary solution. According to the leader of the Mai Hich Commune People's Committee: The root problem is still the landslide behind the hamlet that has not been thoroughly handled. We hope that superiors will soon have a long-term solution. It could be resettlement or embankment reinforcement against landslides, to help people stabilize their lives.

Not only the authorities but also the people in the village actively participated in helping each other to clean up goods and belongings to move to shelters.

Every time the rainy season passes, the people of Thanh Mai hamlet are drenched in sweat and tears. Children no longer eagerly wait for the rain to cool off, but are scared every time they hear the sound of rain falling on the roof. Adults are used to skipping meals and hugging each other and running in the dark. Many dreams of a peaceful life in their hometown are shattered by the haunting fear of "the hill collapsing at any moment".

Comrade Le Duc Hung, Chairman of Mai Ha Commune People's Committee, encouraged households that had moved to safe shelters.

At the temporary shelter, Ms. Thao looked towards the hill still obscured by the rain, her eyes filled with tears: We just wish for a real place to live. If we keep running from rain and storm like this, who knows when our suffering will end? Thanh Mai people are still steadfastly clinging to their land, clinging to their "birthplace". But that steadfastness is now gradually being eroded by the consecutive rainy and stormy seasons, by the cracks that are getting longer and wider on the hillside behind. And so, their tears fall with each storm, like a plea for an early solution to end the vicious cycle of insecurity, so that the roofs they live in can be a solid shelter in the midst of natural disasters.

Manh Hung

Source: https://baophutho.vn/nuoc-mat-mua-giong-bao-tren-vung-dat-co-nguy-co-cao-ve-sat-lo-238615.htm