Hòa Bình Reservoir opens 7 floodgates

October 11, 2017 | 15:13

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The Hòa Bình Reservoir under the Hòa Bình Hydro-power Company has opened seven floodgates, after heavy rains caused a rapid rise in the water level.

The Hòa Bình Reservoir discharges its water. - VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Hà

Five floodgates were opened on Tuesday night and two others were opened on Wednesday morning. This was believed to be the largest flood discharge in 10 years within the reservoir.

Nguyễn Văn Quang, deputy chief of the National Steering Committee on Natural Disasters Prevention and Control, said at an urgent meeting on Wednesday morning that if the water flowing into the reservoir continues to rise, the reservoir might open other floodgates.

By 9am on Wednesday, the water level of the reservoir reached 117.4 metres, with the water flowing into the reservoir at 12,960cu.m per second.

Previously, the committee on Tuesday ordered the reservoir to open one floodgate on Wednesday to lower the water level. However, due to the rapidly rising water level, the reservoir actively opened six floodgates on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Quang said.

Quang said the constantly discharging water from the reservoir would cause impacts on lowland. Therefore, he asked the company to inform all the relevant agencies and people who could be affected by the water discharge, so that they can better prepare for it.

Relevant agencies were tasked with taking measures to ensure safety for the dykes, he added.

In another movement, the committee required on Wednesday the Sơn La Hydro-power Plant to suspend all its turbines from operation and to not release water to the downstream of Đà River.

VNA

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