Nghe An is urgently draining floodwaters to minimize damage caused by heavy rains.
Heavy and prolonged rainfall over the past few days has caused localized flooding in Nghe An province. In response, local authorities have mobilized machinery to clear waterways. Water management units are focusing on draining floodwaters to minimize damage to residents.
Address flooding issues quickly.
In Quynh Luu commune, heavy rains in recent days have caused localized flooding in some residential areas. Ms. Van Thi Thom, head of Hamlet 1 in Quynh Luu commune, said that after the merger, the hamlet has 760 households.
Due to prolonged heavy rain, approximately 30 households in the village experienced flooding in their yards. Yesterday morning (August 20th), the People's Committee of Quynh Luu commune mobilized two excavators to clear the waterway and remove algae, moss, water hyacinth, and grass covering the Phu Si canal, which is over 150 meters long.
As of this morning, over 70% of the dredging work has been completed. Thanks to the cleared waterways, water in the flooded areas has been largely drained away in a timely manner. Local authorities are continuing to dredge water hyacinths, with completion expected by noon on August 21st.
According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Luu commune, during the rainy season, there are quite a few locations in the commune that are at risk of flooding. Therefore, the local authorities are reviewing all vulnerable points, especially those where machinery can be used to quickly resolve blockages.
One of the major challenges currently is that many canals and ditches are covered with algae, moss, water hyacinth, and grass, limiting their drainage capacity. Besides proactively clearing blockages, Quynh Luu commune is also coordinating with the irrigation management unit to operate flood drainage structures, including the Binh Son 5-gate sluice and the To Khe 3-gate sluice, in order to quickly lower water levels in rice fields and residential areas.
Simultaneously put into operation all drainage and water management facilities.
Not only in Quynh Luu commune, but the entire drainage system of Nghe An province is also being operated at high capacity to meet the drainage requirements during this heavy rainfall.
At the Nghi Quang three-sluice gate, the entire system has been operating at full capacity since the morning of August 20th.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tuan, head of the Nghi Quang flood control station, said that the project's purpose is to drain floodwaters from the former Nghi Loc district. During this rainy period, a large amount of water flowed in from upstream and inland areas.
The Nghi Quang sluice gate has 13 gates, operated electrically. Currently, all gates have been raised, with a discharge flow rate ranging from approximately 270-420 m³/s. However, operation is facing considerable difficulties due to the deterioration of some components of the structure, including damaged sluice gates, which significantly affects the regulation and drainage process.
Notably, due to this being the first heavy rain of the season, a large amount of water hyacinth and debris from the irrigation canals flowed into the sluice gate area. In addition, many trees and bamboo from other areas were also swept away and accumulated at the sluice gate, obstructing the flow. In response to this situation, the operating staff had to continuously remove and push away the water hyacinth and debris to ensure the smooth operation of the sluice gates.
Mr. Pham The Phi, Head of the Technical Department of Nam Nghe An Irrigation Company Limited, said that the unit currently manages 7 drainage sluices in the area, including 4 large projects: Ben Thuy sluice gate, Nghi Quang sluice gate, Hoa Thai sluice gate, and Thuong Xa sluice gate. Currently, 100% of the workers are on duty at the sluice gates, operating at full capacity to promptly drain floodwaters.
In Dien Chau commune, large-scale drainage works are also being operated at high capacity. At the Dien Thanh drainage sluice gate, since the morning of August 20th, the unit has opened 3 sluice gates, each 19m wide, with a total discharge rate of approximately 320m³/s. Meanwhile, at the Dien Thuy sluice gate, all 3 sluice gates have been opened, with a discharge rate of over 100m³/s.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Hanh, Director of Dien Chau Irrigation Enterprise, said that currently, a large amount of water is flowing in from the upstream communes. Some areas have experienced localized flooding, affecting production, including flooded peanut fields in An Chau commune and localized flooding in some areas of the former Yen Thanh district. According to Mr. Hanh, if the rainfall continues to increase, the unit will have to open the sluice gates wider to increase drainage capacity.
On standby 24/7, proactively responding to heavy rain.
According to a representative from the Nghe An Irrigation Department, the province currently has more than 20 large and small drainage systems, including many important structures such as the Nghi Quang sluice gate, the Ben Thuy sluice gate, the Thuong Xa sluice gate, the Nghi Xa sluice gate, the Dien Thanh sluice gate, the Dien Thuy sluice gate, etc. Given the heavy rainfall, these structures are being operated intensively to drain water as quickly as possible.
The Nghe An Irrigation Department has requested irrigation project management units to strengthen their workforce, closely monitor the area, organize 24/7 duty shifts, closely track water levels on canals and rivers, and proactively operate the structures according to the principle of "draining tides and draining floodwaters." The goal is to take advantage of favorable times to drain water, quickly reduce water levels in the fields, and minimize damage to crops.
Given the still unpredictable weather conditions, the leaders of Nghe An province have requested that localities and irrigation project management units continue to closely monitor the developments of rainfall and flooding, and proactively implement drainage plans at the grassroots level.
The focus is on quickly draining water from inland areas, especially in low-lying areas, river mouths, and coastal areas; while ensuring the safety of irrigation works, protecting agricultural production areas, and limiting flooding in urban areas. Along with this, local authorities and residents should proactively inspect and clear drainage systems, preventing weeds, garbage, and other obstructions from clogging the waterways.
Given the possibility of continued heavy rainfall, the synchronized operation of the irrigation system, combined with clearing waterways and proactively addressing flooding issues, is considered an urgent solution to reduce pressure on the drainage system and protect agricultural production and the lives of people in Nghe An province.
