Thua Thien‑Hue’s A So airport free from dioxin contamination
(VOVWORLD) - A So airport in the central province of Thua Thien‑Hue has been cleared of dioxin contamination, according to the Chemical Command under the Defense Ministry.
Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien speaks at a ceremony to announce the completion of dioxin cleanup at A So airport, October 24, 2023. |
The agency announced on Tuesday the completion of a 3‑year dioxin cleanup project at the airport at a cost of 3 million USD. The project included clearing mines and collecting and treating more than 38,000 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated soil.
“A So airport is now safe, contributing to local socio-economic development. The cleanup is even more significant as A So is a remote, border area inhabited mostly by ethnic minority people,” Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien said.
During wartime, the US military used A So valley in A Luoi district as an airfield to transport and store Agent Orange. Thua Thien‑Hue is home to nearly 16,000 people who were exposed to Agent Orange, including 5,000 in A Luoi district.