Despite Da Nang’s great efforts in developing more urban drainage systems, pumping stations, many locations and streets were submerged in water after heavy rains. Therefore, the city needs more effective solutions for flood prevention during this year's stormy season.

Torrential downpour caused flooding in some streets in the city as street inlets for draining rainwater along these roads were plugged with debris and leaves. IN PHOTO: Le Tan Trung Street in Son Tra District was flooded at noon of September 7 after heavy rainfall. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Many locations and roads flooded after heavy rain

A total of 37 flood hotspots are identified in Da Nang. Included are Nguyen Van Linh, Ham Nghi, Le Duan, Nui Thanh, Le Tan Trung, Vo An Ninh, and Cach Mang Thang Tam streets, entrance gate to Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, alley No. 818 on Tran Cao Van Street, the intersection of Nguyen Duc Thuan and Vo Nguyen Giap streets. Hence, sanitation workers must be deployed to these hotspots during heavy rainfall to remove stuck trash at street inlets and remove rainwater from the surface of the road in an attempt to prevent flooding. Especially, mobile pumping stations must be built in hotspots of extreme risk, including Nguyen Chanh and Tran Dinh Tri streets in Lien Chieu District, Tran Dai Nghia and residential area No 14, Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District.

The Da Nang Department of Construction and the municipal Drainage and Wastewater Management Company took proactive steps to make backup generators available for use during a potential power cut caused by recent typhoon Noru in an attempt to ensure continuous power supply for pumping stations for stormwater removal. In addition, focus has been paid to lowering the water level of regulated lakes in Da Nang’s inner-city on September 26, and maximizing all the available resources to remove stuck trash at street inlets. In addition, heed was paid to making use of all available resources for flood preventation at flood-prone area, including Hai Ho, Ly Tu Trong, Nui Thanh, Nguyen Van Linh, Ham Nghi, Le Duan, Hoang Hoa Tham, Ong Ich Khiem, and Ha Huy Tap streets, downstream area of Khe Can, Me Linh sluice, a section from Da Nang Airport to Trung Nu Vuong Street.

Da Nang's leaders urged relevant agencies to take all necessary measures to ensure smooth operation of anti-flood pumping stations during the storm, especially those located at Thuan Phuoc and Dien Bien Phu Tunnel. Furthermore, importance was attached to dredging the city’s drainage system and encouraging citizen participation in removing stormwater in front of their houses.

Dredging the city’s drainage system and building more anti-flood works

Over the past time, the city has accelerated its efforts to carry out anti-flood works. The focus has been on renovating culverts along Ky Dong Street, inter-ward drainage system in Xuan Ha Ward, raising a section of Ha Huy Tap Street in front of the Huynh Ngoc Hue Primary School and more. These anti-flood projects have been basically completed to ensure flood prevention. The construction of Khe Can drainage system is underway, and it is expected to be completed by late 2022.

Besides, the construction of drainage canal system and regulating reservoirs in the upstream area of Gia Tron Bridge and extended Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District is underway to drain rainwater from Hoa Khanh Industrial Park into Cu River in order to prevent flooding in the western ring road No. 2, Hong Phuoc residential area in Hoa Khanh Bac ward, Lien Chieu District, and Trung Son Village in Hoa Lien Commune, Hoa Vang District. These projects are scheduled to be completed in August 2023.

The city has spent VND 13,000 billion to build drainage works for addressing flooding issues but localized flooding still occurs as dredging has not been carried out synchronously. Therefore, the city needs synchronous solutions on dredging work and boosts budget allocation for this work.

Every year, the Da Nang Drainage and Wastewater Management Company focuses on dredging culverts along roads with a width of 10.5m or over. District-level authorities open bidding for dredging culverts with a width of 7.5m or below and dredging on sewers and trenches in residential areas.

In the coming time, the Municipal Department of Construction will work with the Municipal Drainage and Wastewater Management Company along with district-level authorities to give high priority to dredging sluices to prevent flooding in the city.

The heed will be paid to developing more street inlets and boosting public involvement in removing stuck trash at street inlets and removing rainwater in the front of their houses.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L