Primary school with 600 students in fear of landslide

A fragile embankment was temporarily built to limit risks for students - Photo: MV

Quang Trung Primary School in residential group 3A (Da Teh town, Da Teh district, Lam Dong province) has a total area of ​​about 15,000m², including 18 classrooms, 4 subject rooms, a principal's office, a multi-purpose building... with a total of 580 students in the 2024-2025 school year, and is studying in anxiety due to the fear of landslides.

The safety of this school is being affected by the steep hill, which is 40 - 70m high compared to the location where the classrooms are being built.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lich - principal of Quang Trung Primary School - said that in the past 2 years, the hill has collapsed, mud and soil have flowed down and flooded the school grounds.

Amid the prolonged rainy season in Lam Dong, the unsafe situation of landslides and mudslides is becoming more apparent.

Mr. Lich said: "Currently, every time it rains heavily or there is strong wind, the school is very worried and uneasy because they do not know if the hill will collapse or not. Risks can completely happen with unpredictable consequences."

Behind the school is a large hill, water and soil from here flows down to the area near the school - Photo: MV

Recently, a landslide occurred in the hill area behind Quang Trung Primary School. The People's Committee of Da Teh town has implemented temporary solutions to minimize the impact of the landslide on the school.

Local authorities have excavated the soil, created a reservoir, and built a 1m high embankment to prevent mud from flowing directly into the school. At the same time, the school has also built a fence and posted warning signs to prevent teachers and students from moving to this area.

“In reality, this only limits loose soil and water from flooding into the school grounds. In the long term, the school really needs a solid embankment to prevent landslides,” said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lich.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Minh - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Teh District - said that Quang Trung Primary School is located at the foot of a hill with a steep slope, and there has been a phenomenon of mud and soil flowing from the hill behind the school into the students' study area.

Through inspection, the district recorded that the hill has a steep slope, so there is a very high risk of landslides and land slides, threatening the safety of staff, teachers and students in the school.

A spacious school next to a hill that is about to collapse - Photo: MV

The People's Committee of Da Teh district has submitted a document to the Provincial People's Committee to allocate funds to invest in building an anti-erosion embankment in the area of ​​Quang Trung Primary School with an estimated cost of 8 billion VND.

If investing according to the normal process, it will take at least 5 more months to implement.

“If this continues, the safety of students will be affected. Landslides may occur, affecting the lives of students and teachers.

Therefore, the District People's Committee is waiting for the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee to consider declaring a natural disaster emergency situation so that it can apply a special investment mechanism to protect the safety of the school," said Mr. Nguyen Hoang Minh.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/truong-tieu-hoc-voi-600-hoc-sinh-hoi-hop-truoc-nguy-co-sat-lo-20240922162736852.htm