Dozens of households had to evacuate because of Ban Ve hydropower plant's flood discharge.

Downstream areas urgently respond to information about Ban Ve Hydropower Plant releasing floodwaters

(Baonghean.vn) - Leaders of several districts in Nghe An issued urgent telegrams overnight to communes to proactively respond and limit damage during the process of hydropower plant flood discharge.

Nghe An's largest hydropower plant releases floodwaters amid risk of widespread heavy rain

(Baonghean.vn) - With the forecast of widespread heavy rain, on the morning of July 30, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant will release water to ensure the safety of the project and proactively respond to floods to ensure safety downstream.

Mr. Vi Dinh Phuc - Chairman of the People's Committee of Luong Minh Commune (Tuong Duong District) said that by the evening of July 29, more than 20 households in the area had been evacuated to a safe place. "Tomorrow morning, before the hydropower plant discharges water, we will continue to support more than 10 other households in La village to continue evacuating," Mr. Phuc said.

Dozens of households in Luong Minh commune had to evacuate because the hydroelectric plant released floodwaters. Photo: Tien Hung

According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Luong Minh commune, among these households, 7 households had to demolish their houses and move to a new resettlement area.

Luong Minh is a commune located between two hydroelectric plants, Ban Ve and Nam Non. In recent years, due to the impact of hydroelectric plants, a series of houses have been seriously eroded. The households that are having their houses demolished are on the list of 34 households that have had to be urgently relocated due to the erosion in the past but have not had the funds.

Landslide caused by hydropower in Luong Minh. Photo: Tien Hung

According to the operating order, starting from 9:00 a.m. on July 30, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant will discharge with a flow rate of 340 m³/s to 1,000 m³/s, including the flow through the spillway and the flow through the two generators.

Also according to the operating order, the Head of the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control of Nghe An province ordered this hydropower plant to discharge water at a flow rate no greater than the flow rate to the lake, to reduce flooding downstream from when the lake water level reaches 192.5 meters.

This move was made in the context that the meteorological agency predicted widespread heavy rain in the North and North Central regions and warned of major floods on rivers in the region in the coming days. The water flow to Ban Ve Lake at 6 p.m. on July 28 was 1,207m³/s. The water level in the lake at the same time is at 190.18 meters.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control has sent a dispatch to the districts downstream of Lam River to proactively respond and limit damage during flood discharge.