Authorities in Thai Nguyen Province in northern Vietnam have declared a state of emergency as Nui Coc, a massive man-made freshwater lake, threatens to give way due to permeation at any moment.

Tens of thousands of residents living in nearby lowlands are susceptible to the threat of such a disaster should it happen, officials have warned.

According to Tran Quang Hoai, deputy director general of the Water Resource Directorate under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, a delegation of experts and officials from the directorate has been sent to Thai Nguyen to assess the urgency of the risks associated with Nui Coc Lake.

Covering 2,500 hectares, Nui Coc Lake in Thai Nguyen is home to 89 islands and is integral to the surrounding area’s irrigation system.

The lake was created on the Cong River, a tributary of the Red River, against the scenic backdrop of Coc Mountain.

In recent years, the lake has evolved into a popular tourist destination, with a VND15 trillion (US$670 million) religious tourism project under way to transform the site into a tourist complex featuring numerous structures to be completed by 2035.

According to Hoai, the main reservoir of Nui Coc Lake has been suffering from permeation in multiple locations, threatening to break down at any moment should measures not be taken to tackle the issue.

“Since the province has declared a state of emergency, we are wasting no time in finding a solution,” Hoai stressed. “The directorate has worked closely with the administration of Thai Nguyen to plan corrective options.”

It is not immediately clear whether construction of the massive tourist complex at the lake, which began last year, has anything to do with the permeation.

Thai Nguyen’s administration has set a 45-day deadline for a solution to a possible disaster.

Nearly 1,000 soldiers and militia have been mobilized in the northern province to react quickly to any further developments, according to the People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen.

Nui Coc Lake in Thai Nguyen Province. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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