Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just signed and issued Official Dispatch 94/CD-TTg dated September 12, 2024 on strengthening the operation and regulation of hydropower reservoirs in the northern provinces to ensure the safety of dike systems and minimize damage caused by flooding in downstream areas.
The dispatch stated that storm No. 3 (international name Yagi) is the strongest storm in the East Sea in the past 30 years, making landfall in the northern provinces with very strong intensity; the storm's circulation caused heavy rain in all provinces from Thanh Hoa north with a total amount of 200 - 400mm, in mountainous provinces from 400 - 600mm, in some places over 700mm.
Many hydroelectric reservoirs in the midland and mountainous areas of the North had to urgently discharge floodwaters to ensure the safety of hydroelectric projects.
Currently, the water level downstream of rivers in the Red River - Thai Binh River basin is at a high level, in some places above alert level 3; some rivers are close to or have exceeded historical levels, threatening the safety of the dike system, causing flooding in many residential areas, schools, medical facilities and other essential infrastructure.
In Ninh Binh, floods on the Hoang Long River coincide with floods on the Red River and the Day River, threatening the safety of the dike system, production activities and people's lives in some districts in the province.
According to the forecast of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the weather in the Northern region tends to improve in the coming days, mainly sunny days, in the evening some places have showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures tend to increase gradually and are generally in the range of 31 - 34 degrees.
To contribute to minimizing the impact of rain, floods, and inundation on the lives and production of people in downstream areas and ensuring absolute safety for hydroelectric reservoirs, the Prime Minister requested a number of tasks.
Accordingly, the Ministers of Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development preside over and coordinate with the Chairmen of the Provincial People's Committees to direct owners and units managing and operating hydropower reservoirs to conduct monitoring, regularly monitor and grasp the situation and developments of rain and floods in the basin.
Focus on operating and regulating reservoirs (especially for the hydropower reservoir system on the Da River, including Lai Chau, Son La, and Hoa Binh hydropower reservoirs) proactively, scientifically, and flexibly to cut, reduce, and slow down floods downstream (including floods on the Hoang Long River in Ninh Binh), while ensuring safety for the project and strictly following the inter-reservoir operation process.
During operation, strictly implement the reporting regime and promptly inform local authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade for timely direction in emergency cases.
In close coordination with local authorities in the downstream area of the dam, the authorities strictly notify and warn people in the downstream area about flood developments and flood control operations so that people can proactively prevent and ensure safety.
