Quang Tri(VNA) - A reservoir embankment incentral Quang Tri province is at high risk of breaching, threatening the safetyof 3,000 local residents who live below the reservoir.

The province’sDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development has suggested the localPeople’s Committee declare emergency status for Trieu Thuong No. 2 reservoir inthe province’s Trieu Phong district due to the severe erosion of itsembankment.

If the embankmentbreaks, huge amounts of water from the reservoir are likely to threaten thelives of locals and inundate 730 ha of land and infrastructure.

Embankment erosionfirst occurred in 2016 after a flood swallowed 630 sq.m of land on theembankment. Many large cracks appeared.

Later in the year,reservoir managers used bamboo poles to temporarily reinforce the erodedembankment. This fix worked until this year’s rainy season.

Nguyen Sinh Cong,deputy director of a local company managing reservoir and irrigation work, saidrampant erosion had occurred after heavy rains and floods.

“Erosion continues atthe base of the embankment and this has created many big sink-holes along thedyke, indicating the imminent collapse of the embankment,” he said.

Ho Xusn Hoe, deputydirector of the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,said he had worked with the local Department of Construction to inspect thereservoir. Hoe said in addition to the eroded embankment and sinkholes, theyalso found a big hole at the base of the embankment.

“This needs to bereinforced by concrete," he said. "The departments have worked withthe provincial People’s Committee to seek approval for the disbursement of 3.7billion VND (170,000 USD) for the job,” he said.   

Nguyen Duc Chinh, Chairmanof the provincial People’s Committee, said he had approved the capitalallocation, adding that urgent repair work would be conducted later this month.-VNA