Northern and north central localities have been operating 276 pumping stations, along with numerous gravity drainage systems, to drain farmland flooded following prolonged heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Matmo, the 11th storm entering the East Sea/South China Sea so far this year.
According to rapid statistics from the Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, as of 17:00 on October 7, nearly 10,900 ha of crops in the two regions, were submerged.
In the North, a total of around 10,476 ha of rice and crops have been flooded or damaged, with Cao Bang being the hardest-hit locality. Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa is the most affected locality in the north central region.
The department also reported that many large irrigation reservoirs in the regions are currently releasing water to ensure structural safety and cope with incoming floods as rainfall continues.
According to the Lang Son Water Control Work Exploitation State Owned Limited Company, the spillway area of Dap De reservoir in Thien Tan commune, is experiencing landslides of soil and rocks onto the spillway. The management unit has deployed excavators to clear the flow and ensure temporary drainage.
Notably, Bac Khe 1 hydropower dam in Tan Tien commune of Lang Son collapsed on the afternoon of October 7 following prolonged heavy rainfall. Located in Bac Khe hamlet, the Bac Khe 1 hydropower plant has an installed capacity of 2.4 MW, a catchment area of 325 sq.km and a reservoir volume of 1.572 million cubic metres. The breach was about 4–5 metres wide and 3-4 metres deep. All residents in downstream areas have been safely evacuated.
The department has urged local authorities and reservoir operators to closely monitor weather developments, water levels, and the condition of structures, especially for critical reservoirs, those with sluice gates, and downstream areas with dense populations during rainfall in the reservoir basin. For ongoing construction projects, appropriate measures must be in place to prevent incidents.
Local authorities and units are requested to operate reservoirs in accordance with approved procedures. For reservoirs with spillway gates, water levels should be adjusted to ensure structural safety, avoiding unusual releases that could endanger downstream areas. Early warning systems must be strictly implemented to alert downstream residents before any water release or potential incidents.
