Over $100 mln to fix roads in central region damaged by floods, landslides

Work has begun to clear roads in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, and Quang Nam provinces that are blocked or damaged by landslides and floods.

The clearing and reinforcing of their sides are expected to cost VND1.35 trillion.

The clearing work will be undertaken by the Ministry of Transport at a cost of VND650 billion if the roads involved are managed by it, and by local authorities in the case of other roads.

Work to repair them, which will go on until the Lunar New Year in early February, will cost an estimated VND1 trillion.

The ministry will draw VND200 billion from road development funds for this year and has asked the government for the rest.

Earlier this week the government allotted VND350 billion ($15 million) to repair national highways in the central region destroyed by floods and landslides.

The region suffered historic flooding and landslides triggered by torrential downpours, tropical storms and depressions for over three weeks from October 6 that resulted in at least 130 deaths.

The flooding has left 290,000 houses and large swathes of agricultural land submerged and killed livestock, damage the government said was "the worst in the past five years."

But even before the region could recover, mighty Storm Molave made landfall over Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces on Wednesday, bringing more heavy rains and strong winds.

At least 15 people have been killed by landslides in Quang Nam, and 38 others are still missing.

The ministry said in areas with bad terrain and those that are frequently hit by floods and storms it would consider solutions such as using water-resistant concrete to build roads instead of asphalt.