From 4:00 p.m. on August 11, Son La Hydropower Plant opened a bottom spillway to ensure flood safety.
On August 13, Lao Dong Newspaper's reporter noted that in the downstream area from Muong La bridge area and above on the hydropower plant, all ships have stopped operating. Communes along the downstream of the Da River no longer have people bathing in the river and fishing; fish cages have been reinforced and moved to safe places.
The leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Son La province said that immediately after receiving the telegram, the Department issued a document requesting departments, branches, People's Committees of communes along the downstream of the Da River and press agencies to widely notify people, organizations, vehicles, aquaculture households, ferry terminals, and river and lake exploitation activities to proactively prevent.
Units are required to monitor water levels, water quality, animal protection, and clear materials on riverbanks; prepare rescue forces and means. The People's Committees of communes and wards organize propaganda, grasp the situation and regularly report. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development synthesizes and reports to the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment according to regulations.
At the boat docks in Muong Bu, Chieng Hoa, Ta Hoc, Chieng Sai, Ta Khoa communes, the boats are fully equipped with life jackets; boat owners remind customers to wear life jackets when crossing the river.
Mr. Tran Van Hai (Pau village, Muong Bu commune) - a passenger boat owner - shared: "My family has been open to the port for 2 years. When we heard that the Hydropower Plant was releasing floodwaters, we increased life jackets, life buoys, and floating materials and always reminded visitors to wear full life jackets when crossing the river.
Mr. Lu Van Qui - Chairman of Muong Bu Commune People's Committee - said that immediately after receiving the telegram on ensuring safety downstream when releasing one bottom gate of Son La Hydropower Reservoir, the Commune People's Committee organized propaganda, announcement, and mobilization of passenger boat owners to comply with the Law on Inland Waterway Traffic; fish cage farming households proactively move fish rafts to less affected areas. "Up to now, activities in the Da River area in the commune have been guaranteed to be safe, and no incidents have occurred" - Mr. Qui said.
Mr. Luong Van Giap (Ha Luong village, Tuong Ha commune) shared: "My family has raised 8 cages of fish for many years. When I heard that Son La Hydropower Plant was releasing floodwaters, I proactively moved the cages to a safe place to avoid strong currents and cloudy water. With the experience from previous years, the family's fish cages will be safe, not affected much when the river water rises".
Mr. Dinh Cong Hung (Un village, Song Khua commune) said that his family raised 10 fish cages, with an output of about 3 tons/year, earning more than 200 million VND.
"After receiving information from the Commune People's Committee, fish farmers in the Da River area reinforced, checked cages and were on duty 24/7 to avoid damage to fish that was flooded with mud when Son La Hydropower Plant released the bottom" - Mr. Hung said.
Up to now, the Da River basin has not recorded any unusual situations in the process of releasing floodwaters from Son La Hydropower Reservoir. People and property are still safe. Local authorities continue to send forces to be on duty and propagate to people along the Da River to proactively prevent and ensure safety downstream.
