Dust Chokes Villages Near Quảng Trị Airport Construction Site

Residents in Cửa Việt commune, near the Quảng Trị Airport construction site, are enduring relentless dust pollution. The constant movement of dump trucks carrying soil for the runway project, located about 100 meters from homes, kicks up thick clouds of dust that blanket the community.

Daily life has become a struggle for many. In the home of 95-year-old Hoàng Thị Tâm, a layer of fine yellow dust covers furniture and plants. She describes having to clean her house multiple times a day, even before sleeping, to manage the pervasive dust. The pollution is particularly bad in the afternoons and evenings, with construction work sometimes continuing until 11 p.m., allowing dust to continue entering homes.

Other residents echo these complaints. Phan Văn Thản, 59, stated that while people support the airport project, the dust is unbearable. He noted that windows must remain closed all day, and even serving guests is difficult due to dust settling on dishes. Phạm Văn Lập, 60, reported that clothes cannot be hung outside to dry and that waking up feels like being in a fog, only to find a layer of dust covering everything.

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The dust is unbearable. Windows must remain closed all day. Even serving guests is difficult.

The dust is also impacting local businesses. Nguyễn Thị Bình, who runs a noodle soup stall, has seen her customer numbers drop significantly. She used to sell about 25kg of flour daily but now struggles to sell 10kg, as customers avoid the dusty environment. She urges the construction company to increase watering efforts to mitigate the pollution.

Concerns for health are high, with reports of pregnant women relocating temporarily due to health worries. Many residents find it difficult to breathe even with double-layered masks. While the local authorities have increased the number of water-spraying trucks from four to six and instructed them to focus on areas near the residential zones, controlling the dust remains a significant challenge due to the vast construction area and prevailing weather conditions.

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Before, I sold about 25kg of flour daily, now it's only about 10kg and it's still not selling out. Customers are reluctant to sit and eat because of the dust.