In Hau Giang Province's Phung Hiep District, for example, parts of eight houses in Tan Long Commune's Thanh Loi A1 Hamlet fell into the Nang Mao River last Saturday because of riverbank erosion. The eroded area was 40 metres long and four to six metres deep inland.

The foundations of more than 10 houses were damaged, and they are now in danger of collapsing.

The Dong Thap Province People's Committee last week announced emergency measures to prevent riverbank erosion along the Tien River in Cao Lanh City's Ward 11.

Dong Thap has 34 communes, wards and towns that have had riverbank erosion with a total length of 38.7 km, affecting 4,000 households. In many areas, erosion was 10- 40 metres deep inland.

The province's eroded sites are in Hong Ngu, Lai Vung and Chau Thanh districts, Cao Lanh and Sa Det cities and Hong Ngu Town.

The Dong Thap Province People's Committee has asked the Government to support financing for the province to build an additional nine residential areas and clusters to relocate households living in erosion-prone areas.

An Giang Province has about 6,000 households living in these areas, and its People's Committee has asked the Government for help to build an additional 19 residential areas and clusters to relocate them.

To prevent further erosion, the An Giang People's Committee has decided to also relocate 244 floating cages that breed fish and other aquatic species in the Hau River in Long Xuyen City's My Hoa Hung Commune.