Unprecedented floods, Prime Minister orders emergency response at Ban Ve Hydropower Plant.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has just signed an urgent telegram from the Prime Minister regarding the emergency response to floods in the Cả River basin.

The circulation of Storm No. 3 has caused very heavy rainfall in the western mountainous region of Nghệ An province, with common rainfall amounts ranging from 120–200mm, and many places exceeding 300mm (in the past 24 hours). At the same time, heavy rain has occurred and will continue to occur in the upper reaches of the Cả River in Laos.

The flood inflow to Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir is at a very high level (the inflow to the reservoir at 10:45 p.m. on July 22 was 10,044 m³/s, exceeding the design flood flow of 7,770 m³/s). The upstream water level of the reservoir is rising rapidly and is at risk of surpassing the allowable level by the morning of July 23. There is a very high risk of flash floods, landslides on slopes, along rivers and streams, and deep flooding in low-lying areas.

The Prime Minister has requested the Chairman of Nghệ An Province to report to the Provincial Party Standing Committee and directly lead and direct the implementation of necessary measures to respond to flooding in the area, ensuring the safety of people's lives and the safety of dykes, irrigation and hydropower reservoirs in Nghệ An province, especially Ban Ve Hydropower Dam.

The province needs to proactively develop plans to ensure the safety of residents and be ready to implement them in the event of worst-case scenarios, avoiding passivity and surprises..

 Ban Ve Hydropower Dam. Image: Báo Nghệ An

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministers of Agriculture and Environment, and Industry and Trade to closely monitor the developments of the floods, proactively coordinate with local authorities to direct the implementation of flood prevention and control, and ensure the safety of dikes, irrigation and hydropower dams according to their assigned functions, tasks, and authority.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=483-MBg1wOU

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to direct Military Region 4 and forces stationed in the area to proactively coordinate with local authorities to deploy forces, means, materials, and equipment in key vulnerable areas at risk of structural incidents, flash floods, landslides, and deep flooding, to be ready to support localities and people in responding to floods and conducting rescue operations when required.

The Minister of Agriculture and Environment is to organize the monitoring, supervision, and forecasting of flood conditions, proactively coordinate with countries and international partners to collect additional data, and further improve the quality of rainfall and inflow forecasts to the Ca River basin to support flood response management.

The Department of Propaganda and Training, General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, reported that at around 5:30 p.m. on July 22, at the embankment area near Cù Là sluice gate in Hồng Vũ commune, Hưng Yên province, there was an overflow along 300 meters of the embankment surface and a breach of about 7 meters.

Within the embankment area, 42 households reside; all residents have now been relocated to a safe location.

The Hưng Yên Provincial Military Command mobilized 120 officers and soldiers (60 regulars and 60 militia members) to participate in the response and recovery efforts.

According to information from Hưng Yên province, the impact of Storm No. 3 caused prolonged heavy rain and rising water levels. Around 1:00 p.m. on July 22, the embankment section near the Cù Là sluice gate experienced overflow, posing a serious threat to the safety of the area and the lives of local residents.

The People's Committee of Hồng Vũ commune promptly mobilized forces, machinery, and materials, coordinated efforts, and organized emergency response and recovery on the same afternoon.

Original from Vietnamnet