Sand Mining Threatens People in Vietnam Due to Home Collapse, Shoreline Erosion

The latest report showed that homes in Vietnam collapsed or tank due to sand mining. Communities and their livelihoods are threatened due to the increasing need for sands for booming construction and national highways.

Uncontrolled sand mining can cause environmental problems.

A UN reports showed that it placed second in the most used resource on the planet, which is about 50 billion tonnes of sand every year.

While sand is important for construction and building materials, the widespread extraction of sand can affect community safety. Unregulated mining can cause shoreline erosion in rivers and coastlines, causing massive impacts on biodiversity and people's livelihoods.

Sand Mining Threatens People's Homes in Vietnam

A recent report warned that sand mining is an alarming problem that massively extracts sand from the seafloor. Marine animals can suffer, affecting their biological and physical environment.

The over-extraction of sand can cause habitat loss for aquatic animals and vegetation. It can also reduce the photosynthesis ability.

In the latest report, the sand mining in Vietnam and hydropower dams have devastating effects on many people and communities. People reported their homes collapsed near Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

A recent study also warned that the sediment could decline massively by 2040 in the region if it is not mitigated or controlled.

The shoreline erosion affected the homes in the area. The extraction of sand in the Mekong can significantly affect the region's sand. Alarmingly, livelihood in the local economy is also disrupted due to the sand mining.

Meanwhile, the report also raised concerns about the impact of the hydropower dams on the sand emergence in the Mekong Delta. The increasing demand for sand can be attributed to the construction boom and highways in the country.

When sand dwindles, it can affect the river flow. Communities in the area, about 20,000 households, can be displaced or relocated due to the sand mining.

Impacts on the Vietnam's Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta in Vietnam has suffered from widespread human activities and reduced fish in the area. Climate change is also a concern due to prolonged drought and frequent heavy rains.

Without urgent efforts, the report emphasized that it could bring serious consequences to agriculture supplies and the economy of the country. The sediment starvation can unleash deadly flooding and salt intrusion.

The riverbed sinking has been exacerbated by climate change and sand mining. The Mekong River is rich in different species, and it can cause troublesome aftermath to riparian communities and water supplies in the region.

Did you know?

According to reports, mangroves and marshes help communities to become safe from extreme weather events.

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