On October 22, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang - Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province inspected the breakwater in An Phu commune.
At the inspection, representatives of the Quang Ngai Province Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board (investor) reported on the construction progress and response plan for storm No. 12, expected to directly affect the area in the evening of October 22.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang requested the investor and contractor to arrange all command forces and human resources at the site during the storm; temporarily suspend construction and move equipment out of the danger zone; and proactively prepare response plans in the worst situation.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang said that he has received information on the forecast of very heavy rainfall. In recent days, the Provincial People's Committee has assigned a Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to directly monitor the situation of large irrigation lakes and hydroelectric plants in the area.
"Currently, the reservoirs are all within the safety threshold and still have a large capacity. However, I requested that they be closely monitored and ready to release water to regulate when there is heavy rain. All disaster response actions must not be based on reports but must be based on reality," Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang emphasized.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang also noted that the authorities should absolutely not let heavy rain occur, causing the downstream to be "full of water", only then can floodworks from hydropower plants cause serious flooding; at the same time, water must not be regulated too soon, causing a shortage of water sources for production and power generation later.
According to Mr. Bui Duc Thai - Deputy Head of the Quang Ngai Provincial Irrigation Department - in the eastern communes of the province, there are 122 reservoirs with free overflow and 5 lakes with regulating valve gates. Currently, the capacity of irrigation reservoirs in this area is about 56.5% on average (of which reservoirs with free overflow reaches 68.8%, reservoirs with regulating valve gates reach 55.5%). Nuoc Trong reservoir currently reaches 55.4% of the designed capacity.
In the western communes of Quang Ngai province, there are 69 reservoirs with free overflow and 15 lakes with regulating valve gates. The volume of lakes in this area is about 86.4% on average (of which lakes with free overflow reach 84.7%, lakes with regulating valve gates reach 87.3%). Notably, there are 43 free overflow lakes that are 100% complete. Dak Trinh Hydropower Reservoir currently reaches 74.16% of capacity.
According to the natural disaster prevention plan, the whole province is expected to have about 4,523 households, with more than 14,200 people, who may have to be relocated if the flood level reaches alert level II or higher. These households are mainly concentrated in the river basins: Tra Bong, Ve, Phuoc Giang, Tra Cau, Tra Khuc, Po Ko, Dak Bla, Dak To Kan.
Localities along the river and coastal areas have conducted reviews and identified safe evacuation points, prepared adequate means and necessities and arranged shock forces to support people when there is an evacuation order.
