Water from upstream flows in, damaging the irrigation dam in Nghia Dan.

Following Typhoon No. 4, floodwaters from upstream have overwhelmed the Thiet Bai Dam. Photo: Minh Thai

The Thiet Bai Dam has a reservoir area of ​​over 15 hectares, serving to irrigate more than 45 hectares of rice and other crops for local people and those in neighboring districts. Every year, during the rainy season, water often flows back up the embankment, flooding residential areas and inundating crops and houses in six downstream hamlets.

The dam has suffered severe erosion and subsidence. Photo: Minh Thai

Due to the impact of typhoon number 4, the downstream section of the spillway, more than 100 meters from the dam body, has suffered erosion, with concrete peeling off and exposing empty spaces. Only a few areas along the dam's edge remain solidly constructed with concrete, leaving open spaces tens of meters deep. Therefore, during the rainy season, residents living around the dam are always worried that the water could rise at any time.

The downstream section of the spillway, 100 meters from the dam body, has been eroded by water to a depth of 5-7 meters. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Vi Van Tiep, Chairman of the Nghia Lien Commune People's Committee, said: "Due to the impact of typhoon No. 4, many public works and crops of the people in Nghia Lien commune have been damaged. In particular, more than 60 households in 5 hamlets along the Heu stream had their houses flooded, and 30 households had to be relocated to higher ground; 12 hectares of fish ponds were completely destroyed, and many assets and poultry were swept away by the flood… Currently, the commune has directed forces to help people recover. The downstream section of the Thiet-Bai dam needs repair, and we urgently need support from the district and province to complete the repairs as soon as possible."