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Nguyen Thi Chuyen, a resident of Xuan Quang Commune, shows cracks that appeared in her house wall following rock blastings at a nearby quarry. 

The two communes, Xuan Quang and Xuan Phuoc, border a quarry established by a local company in mountainous Dong Xuan District.

Phan Thi My Dung, a resident in Xuan Quang, said the walls of her home had many long cracks caused by blasting three times a day, sometimes during lunch breaks.

"I feel my house vibrating as soon as a blast happens," she said, adding that her neighbors were in a similar position. Some of the cracks stretch for two metres or more.

Other residents reported that pressure from the repeated blasting was so powerful it shook their bodies and affected their health. "I feel a tightness across my chest during the blasting," said Nguyen Thi Chuyen, another resident.

Children in the 20 households nearest to the quarry live in fear of the blasts. Some even faint because of the sudden shocks.

Resident Trinh Ky Phuong said in addition to pressure and loud sounds from blasts and machines used to cut the rock, dust from the quarry polluted the air and well water residents use for daily supplies.

The quarry company involved is the May 1 Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company.

District authorities who organised a team to check the situation concluded that they could not be sure that the cracks in the walls were caused by the quarry blasting.

A report issued by the district people's committee said, following site checks, however admitted that blasting had been carried out with in an acceptable frequency.

The report also said the blasts happened three times a day on April 2 and 17 and May 29 and all were done in the twilight of the days.

The province People's Committee licensed the company to exploit 14,000cu.m of stone from the quarry from March to June, but operation at the quarry is still continuing.

At the site, the company is now installing a new system to mix concrete and asphalt, which produces a strong odour.