At 12:30pm on Wednesday, Dak Mi 4, Song Bung 4, Song Tranh 2 hydropower reservoirs were operated to lower their water level as the water level on the Vu Gia River dropped to below flood stage. Hydropower plants have been asked to increase water release from their reservoirs into the downstream of the Vu Gia River in order to make sure that water levels are lowest at their reservoirs in an effort to cope with heavy rains which could triggered flooding in the downstream areas of Vu Gia and Thu Bon rivers in the coming days in line with the direction from the Quang Nam Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defence.

Discharges from reservoirs of Dak Mi, Song Bung and Song Tranh Hydropower plants into the downstream area have been asked to increase by 200-250m³/s, 100-200m³/s, and 200-300m³/s in order to make sure that water levels are lowest at their reservoirs not later than 6:30pm, 12:30pm, 6:30 pm on Thursday, respectively.  

The three hydropower plants have been urged to take action in line with inter-reservoir operation regulations on the Vu Gia- Thu Bon River basin in a bid to help reduce flood risk in the downstream of the Vu Gia River. In addition, importance must be attached to ensuring that discharges from their reservoirs do not cause sudden and abnormal rise in rivers’ water level to post a direct threat on the lives and properties of people living along downstream of these reservoirs.

Moderate rains with localised heavy to very heavy falls remain on the forecast for the parts from Thua Thien- Hue to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, from Wednesday night through Thursday, December 8, according to the Mid-central Region Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. The total rainfall amount will be 20mm to 80mm in common in these areas while more than 120mm of rain could fall in some places

The rain in Thua Thien –Hue and Da Nang could see between 20mm and 50mm fall, with up to more than 70mm possible in some places.

As much as 30mm-80mm of rain could fall in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces, and even more than 120 mm in some places.

Rain activity is expected to declince gradually over the parts from Thua Thien –Hue to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, from Friday, December 9, the regional weather service has indicated.

Regional forecasters have also issued warnings of flash floods and landslides for mountainous areas in the parts from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang.

 Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L