​Quarry blasts damage Vietnamese heritage temple, houses

A series of blasts from a stone quarry have been causing damage to a two-century-old cultural heritage site and homes of a neighboring village in north-central Vietnam for many years, inspiring fears amongst both visitors and local residents.

Residents of a mountainous area in Yen Mo District of Thanh Hoa Province have found that their houses have been developing some cracks and the foundations sinking.

The culprit, they said, was explosions with echoing sounds from a limestone quarry close to their village.

The stone extraction is conducted by the Hong Hai Construction Material Production Consortium, which was licensed to operate here in 2014.

Similar impacts can also been seen in the structure of the provincial heritage temple located only 70 meters from the quarry, the Han Son Pagoda.

Wide cracks are seen on the steps of the Han Son Pagoda in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Cracks are seen on a wall of the Han Son Pagoda in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The temple is sinking, with widening cracks now seen on the flight of steps leading to its doors, while its walls have been marred by multiple long lines of breakage.

The construction built in 1797 is experiencing the first signs of damage following a recent renovation to surpass its former glory.

Tourists to the pagoda took fright at the possibility that debris hurled from the explosions might end up on their heads, a representative of the temple said.

The local government has just delved into the problem and results from an investigation are expected to be gained prior to July 5.

The action came as a belated response, as affected local residents had repeatedly sent their complaints against the quarry to local authorities, who were slow to handle the case.

Dust shrouds a quarry in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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