Severe riverbank collapse along a section of the Saigon River in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, measuring 40 meters in length and over 20 meters in depth, has raised concerns among local residents.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport confirmed that it had been informed of the incident by the Center for Waterway Management.

According to the report, the riverbank failure began on August 4.

The collapse site is primarily situated within the vicinity of a café, along the bank of the Saigon River at 3C Quarter in Thanh Loc Ward, District 12. 

This specific area also falls within the scope of the national inland waterway, approximately two kilometers away from the Phu Long Bridge. 

The dimensions of the riverbank’s erosion are approximately 40 meters in length alongside the river and extend more than 20 meters into the bank. 

The eroded section is currently progressively encroaching onto the shore by around 16-20 meters. 

Concurrently, cracks measuring between six and 10 centimeters have emerged, spanning a length of roughly 30 meters along the river.

The pertinent authorities attributed the preliminary cause of the occurrence to factors such as significant tidal fluctuations, strong river currents, and the presence of soft ground.

There were no casualties resulting from the riverbank collapse. 

However, an area exceeding 800 square meters of land, along with several business assets such as tables, chairs, and plants belonging to the aforementioned café, were washed away by the incident.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport specified that the site where the erosion happened was not included in the list of 32 sites along rivers and canals across the city which the municipal administration had previously identified as areas susceptible to riverbank failure.

Authorities have taken prompt measures after the occurrence in District 12, instructing the landowner to swiftly secure the affected area with barricades to safeguard the well-being and assets of the populace.

In terms of resolutions, the transport department recommended that the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration for Region III expedite the establishment of a waterway signaling system in the affected zone to alert vessels to speed restrictions during travel.

Furthermore, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Waterway Management is tasked with vigilantly monitoring the erosion’s advancement. 

This entails close collaboration with local authorities to provide timely alerts regarding the potential continuation of erosion over the forthcoming days.

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