In response to the complicated developments of storm No. 1 Wutip, the Department of Management and Construction of Irrigation Works (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) has just issued an urgent warning, requesting localities in the Central, Central Highlands and Southern regions, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh provinces, Ninh Binh provinces to urgently activate scenarios to respond to heavy rain and the risk of dam incidents.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, on the morning of June 11, the tropical depression in the East of Hoang Sa archipelago strengthened into storm No. 1 with winds of level 8, gusting to level 10. It is forecasted that from the night of June 11 to June 13, the Central Central and Northern Central Highlands regions will have heavy to very heavy rain. The Northern Central Highlands alone may record rainfall of up to 200mm within 6 hours.
In that situation, the Department requested the Departments of Agriculture and Environment, Project Management Boards and irrigation works operators to review all reservoirs and irrigation dams, especially works under construction, underground works or those with unstable water flow systems. For weak lakes with high safety risks, it is necessary to proactively not store water or limit water storage.
Localities are also required to update flood maps, zoning rice and crop areas at risk of flooding to develop timely drainage plans and protect production.
Operate reservoirs according to approved operating procedures. For reservoirs with floodgates, based on the forecast of rainfall to adjust the lake water level to proactively welcome floods, ensure absolute safety of works and not discharge unusual floods causing unsafety to downstream areas, especially pay attention to the operation process and water storage for reservoirs under construction or completed and not yet handed over. Strictly implement early warnings to people in downstream areas before reservoirs release floodwaters and when there is a risk of incidents.
For reservoirs that have not been handed over or are under construction, it is necessary to arrange on-site human resources and means to handle incidents according to the "4 on-site" motto.
The Department of Irrigation also emphasizes the requirement for localities to organize 24/7 on-duty during the period of rain and floods and regularly update reports on the safety of works and incidents, as well as project operations to the Department for timely handling.
