Over recent days, under the impacts of an intensified cold front, strong winds, heavy rough seas, high waves and rising sea-levels, devastating erosion has occurred along coastal streets in Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son districts, posing an immediate threat to Da Nang’s urban face and causing seaside buildings to suffer from subsidence and structural damages.

A part of the Son Thuy Beach area in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District recently hard hit by erosion

Six coastal areas are currently suffering erosion, namely a swimming area opposite the intersection of the Ho Thau - Vo Nguyen Giap streets, a site located behind restaurants Phuoc My 2 and My Hanh, a coastal section stretching from the intersection of the Vo Van Kiet and Vo Nguyen Giap streets to the front of the Grand Tourance Hotel, a vast running from beach No 9 to the Muong Thanh Hotel, a beach opposite the junction of Vo Nguyen Giap and Hoang Ke Viem streets, and Son Thuy Beach.

The phenomenon appeared in 2017 and 2018 along these coastal areas, and it has resumed its impacts from late December 2020 up to now, according to Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Domestic experts and scientists said that a vast coastal area stretching from the Son Tra Peninsula to the border with Quang Nam Province is vulnerable to seasonal variation of morphology and sediment movement.

Simply put, during the strong northeast monsoon season, this area usually braces for coastal erosion, but in the southwest monsoon season, sea waves carry sand onshore again.

With regard to immediate solutions, Da Nang authorities will map out plans to establish a coastal protection corridor in the city to minimize and adapt to the impacts of coastal erosion, climate change and sea level rise.

In order to set up the coastal protection corridor, tasks must be fulfiled on collecting information to assess natural conditions, natural resources, ecosystems, natural landscapes, cultural heritage, the plans for socio-economic development, the exploitation of natural resources, the actual state of the sea environment, and disaster risks in coastal areas

Also, in the coming time, heed will be paid to fortifying the embankment on beaches on the verge of collapse with a large volume of stones and sandbags, in order to prevent seawater from further encroaching onto land.

Warning signs will be placed at erosion-ravaged areas in order to ensure the ultimate safety of local residents and tourists.

By HOANG HIEP- Translated by A.T