Residents shocked as farmland splits open after landslides in Gia Lai

Residents in Gào commune, Gia Lai province, were shocked to find farmland split apart and sliding away after weeks of heavy rain. Local authorities said continuous rainfall over the past two months had caused flooding, localized landslides and subsidence, affecting about 60 households with fields along streams.

In Nang Lông-Osơr village, several sections of hillside covering nearly 1,000 square meters suddenly slipped. The collapse left holes almost 40 meters deep and buried hundreds of coffee trees.

Nguyễn Văn Tùng's family suffered among the heaviest losses. About 300 coffee trees, a dug well, a water pump, electrical equipment and irrigation pipes were swept into lower fields. The family estimated the damage at about 200 million Vietnamese dong. "We were shocked when we reached the farm early in the morning and saw the land had severely slid and split apart. Luckily, it happened at night, so no lives were affected," Tùng said.

Nang Lông-Osơr village head Đinh Văn Tính said about 25 households were directly affected. In Plei O Pếch village, about 25 households had rice fields damaged, while 12 lost coffee trees to landslides. Soil and rocks also filled 12 irrigation ponds, raising concerns about water shortages for the next growing season.

Local officials have marked off severe landslide zones and warned residents to keep away. Authorities have also advised farmers with waterlogged coffee fields to dig drainage channels to prevent prolonged standing water from damaging roots and reducing yields.

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We were shocked when we reached the farm early in the morning and saw the land had severely slid and split apart. Luckily, it happened at night, so no lives were affected.