Sand floods repeatedly wash onto road to Vietnam’s Mui Ne resort area

Authorities in Phu Thuy said on Wednesday they had asked the provincial administration to urgently address repeated sand floods that have been sweeping across Nguyen Thong Street, the main gateway to Mui Ne, according to Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper.

On Tuesday night, heavy rain washed sand from nearby hills down onto Nguyen Thong Street.

The strong current carried red sand across the road, making travel difficult and causing at least one motorcyclist to fall.

Similar incidents occurred on September 29 and September 23, when red sand floods blocked traffic and forced police to cordon off sections of the road.

Late on September 28, another flood damaged a section of 1/5 Street, which connects Nguyen Thong to beachfront resorts.

At the damaged section, part of a slope collapsed and the erosion extended to nearly half the road surface.

Officials said the problem stems from run-off carrying sand from Vo Nguyen Giap Street down to Nguyen Thong.

The existing drainage system, including a major culvert, has been clogged with sand, reducing its capacity during heavy downpours.

Nguyen Van Nghi, chairman of the ward’s administration, said the ward lacks resources to fix the issue and has asked the province to allocate funds to expand or build new drainage systems.

He stressed that without improvements, red sand floods will continue to threaten traffic safety and tourism access whenever heavy rains occur.