As many reports have reported, in recent weeks, the water level of the Red River passing through Phu Tho province has dropped. The river water is shallow, many alluvial plains and giant sand dunes appear, the river is narrow, and there are even places where people stand in the middle of the river to cast nets and fish.
On the Red River in Phu Tho province, there are many ferry terminals and ferry terminals across the river. Chi Chu ferry terminal and Tinh Cuong ferry terminal serve the travel of thousands of workers, laborers, students... of Cam Khe and Thanh Ba districts every day.
Coming to Chi Chu ferry terminal connecting Cam Khe town, Cam Khe district with Chi Tien commune, Thanh Ba district in late February, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters could easily record that when the Red River is low, the alluvial plains are cracked, the river is narrow..., the ferry terminal business unit has to reinforce a section of road dozens of meters long to the river to pick up and drop off customers.
Along with that, lighting has been installed to move to near the 2 ends of the wharf to facilitate traffic at night, 100% of people who take the boat are equipped with life jackets to ensure safety...
With the rapid industrial development in Cam Khe district in recent years, many workers in communes of Thanh Ba district crossing the river to Cam Khe work every day, Chi Chu boats have to operate at full capacity from early morning until late evening.
With Tinh Cuong ferry terminal connecting Nhat Tien commune, Cam Khe district (before merging the administrative unit of Phu Lac commune) with Thanh Ha commune, Thanh Ba district, being the only place with a ferry serving cars crossing the river, the river water has been shallow in recent weeks, causing difficulties for ferry and boat business.
Talking to reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Tran Van Ton - owner of Tinh Cuong ferry terminal - said that at present, when the river water is low, along with the need to continuously renovate and reinforce the terminal, there have appeared many sand dunes and changed channels on the river, making it difficult for boats and ferries to move.
"Never before has the Red River been driven like this year. Currently, the ferry is temporarily closed, waiting for the water to rise before being able to travel. With the boat, this time there are few passengers, when traveling, we have to go around to avoid sand dunes, so it costs more oil, reinforcing the wharf also costs more money... Business is difficult, so we have to cut down on workers, previously the 4 workers now only have 2 people" - Mr. Ton confided.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting's Short-Term Hydrological Forecast and Warning bulletin No. 54 dated February 23, the water level on the Thao River (Red River) in Yen Bai and Phu Tho continues to change slowly. The actual water level measured at Phu Tho station at 7:00 a.m. on February 23 was 10.72 m. For about a week, the water level of the Red River at Phu Tho station has been generally below 11 m, with some days on February 19 rising above 11.15 m (at 1:00 p.m.).
