Massive fish deaths, rice fields submerged in mud after floods.
(Baonghean.vn) - Prolonged heavy rains and floods have caused the water level in the Lam River to rise and flow rapidly, killing fish in cages in the mountainous district of Con Cuong and leaving many households penniless. Hundreds of hectares of rice fields in the district have also turned yellow in the mud.
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| Fish in cages died in large numbers in Chau Khe due to sudden flooding. Photo: Ba Hau. |
Due to the complex flood situation, and to ensure dam safety and prevent major flooding, the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant upstream on the Lam River released a large volume of water, catching fish farmers on the Lam River off guard. Some cages were swept away, while others died in large numbers due to the sudden change in water levels.
In Chau Khe commune (Con Cuong district), six households have six fish cages, each containing an average of 200 fish. The fish have been raised for 1-2 years, with each weighing 2-3 kg. To date, more than 3 tons of fish have died, mainly grass carp; the estimated loss is over 200 million VND.
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| The people of Con Cuong are heartbroken as their fish died before they could be sold. Photo: Ba Hau |
Immediately after the incident occurred, local authorities mobilized forces to assist people in collecting the fish, preventing pollution of the Lam River water source; at the same time, they focused on mitigating the consequences of the flooding.
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| Hundreds of hectares of rice fields in Con Cuong were also damaged by the floods. Photo: Nguyen Thi Xuan |
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| In Chau Tien commune, Quy Chau district, dozens of water wheels belonging to local people were also swept away and submerged. Photo: Cuong Ba Tho |
As of the afternoon of August 18th, over 3,000 hectares of rice fields across the province had been flooded, more than 1,500 hectares of annual crops had been submerged, over 7,000 livestock had died, and 597 hectares of aquaculture areas had been flooded.
