Land subsidence in Vietnam endangers Mekong Delta

Nguyễn Văn Cừ Street in Cần Thơ City’s Ninh Kiều District was flooded by high tides in October last year. High tides and land subsidence have contributed to flooding in the city in recent years. – VNA/VNS

HO CHI MINH CITY (Vietnam News/ANN): The overexploitation of groundwater in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta has contributed to severe land subsidence, which could lead to devastating consequences if the practice continues, experts have said.

The delta, the country’s largest rice, fruit and seafood producer, is facing a land subsidence rate of 1 cm per year, with some areas reaching a rate of 5.7 cm, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.