Due to the impact of storm No. 11 ( Matmo), a fire broke out in Bac Khe 1 hydropower dam in Lang Son province. Accordingly, at 1:30 p.m. on October 7, 2025, at Bac Khe 1 hydropower plant, Tan Tien commune (Kim Dong commune, old Trang Dinh district), Lang Son province, a dam broke.
On the afternoon of October 7, a working group of the Ministry of Industry and Trade led by Mr. Pham Tuan Anh - Director of the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment - inspected the scene of the broken dam of Bac Khe 1 hydropower plant.
Through inspection, the dam broke at a length of 4-5m, 3-4m deep from 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on October 7, but it was still stable, not encroached by ginseng, no more rain and the lake water was receding.
The working group of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed the investor of Bac Khe 1 hydropower plant to immediately deploy a plan to respond to emergency situations and dam breakages approved by competent authorities. In particular, do a good job of warning people downstream and coordinate with local authorities to evacuate people and property in areas at risk of flooding.
Request the Department of Industry and Trade of Lang Son province to closely coordinate with local authorities to deploy assigned tasks in the emergency response plan, direct investors to immediately arrange leaders to the scene to directly command the response work, mobilize maximum human resources, materials, and means to respond to dam break incidents, minimizing damage to works and downstream areas.
Providing more information about the direction of handling, a representative of the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment said that the factory had notified the authorities of Tan Tien commune, Trang Dinh commune, That Khe commune, Lang Son province so that the authorities could notify people to move their assets and go to higher ground to ensure the safety of people's lives and property. In addition, the factory has contacted the power unit to cut off the power to ensure safety.
According to the representative of the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment, Bac Khe 1 hydropower plant involves 3 villages of Bac Khe, Na Soong and Hop Luc; the total number of households in the above 3 villages is 196 households with 779 people. 23 households with 101 people affected by the broken dam incident at Bac Khe 1 hydropower plant. Currently, people have been evacuated to a safe place.
