Ban Ve Hydropower Plant discharges flood at safe level, flood victims have returned home

Mr. Ta Huu Hung - Deputy Director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company said: Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee and complying with the inter-reservoir operation process, for the past two days the reservoir has been operated according to the principle of discharge flow equal to the water flow from upstream Laos.

The highest discharge level reached 4,263 m³/s starting from 9:30 - 11:15 on August 31, the discharge level at Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir gradually decreased due to the decrease in water flow. At 18:45, the reservoir discharged flood water at 2,460 m³/S,has now reached normal water level.

It is expected that in the coming days, the amount of water flowing into the lake will decrease sharply, possibly down to 2,000 m³/s. We will base on the amount of water flowing in to promptly take measures to reduce the lake water level, ensure safety and minimize damage to downstream areas.

Flood discharge at Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir. Photo: Phu Huong

Regarding safety, the Ban Ve Hydroelectric Dam is made of concrete, with a flood design frequency of 0.02% (meaning the probability of a flood occurring is once every 5,000 years).

This flood has a frequency of 2%, meaning it only happens once every 50 years, which is far from the flood protection design of the lake. Therefore, it can be affirmed that there is currently no loss of safety for the dam, structures on the dam, or spillway system.

Technical staff of Ban Ve Hydropower Company operate flood discharge valves. Photo: Phu Huong

Mr. Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control inspected the flood discharge situation at Ban Ve Hydropower Plant. Photo: Phu Huong

People in Cua Rao village, Tuong Duong district evacuated to the high mountains due to rumors of a dam collapse in Ban Ve Hydropower Plant. Photo: Phu Huong

Previously, since the morning of August 31, false rumors about the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant dam breaking caused hundreds of people in Tam Thai, Tam Quang communes, Cua Rao 1 village, Xa Luong commune, Hoa Binh town... to panic and evacuate to the highlands.

Faced with that situation, Tuong Duong district promptly informed the people to avoid causing panic and disorder in the area.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district said: "The district has directed the Department of Culture to use mobile vehicles and loudspeakers to go to the localities to propagate, and at the same time broadcast information about the situation of Ban Ve dam on the loudspeaker system of blocks, hamlets and villages so that people can grasp the situation. The district has also sent urgent dispatches to the communes; sent officers of departments and offices to directly direct and mobilize people to return on August 31. Currently, people have basically returned home to stabilize their lives."

Leaders of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue and leaders of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district inspected the flood situation at households, mobilizing people to overcome the consequences and stabilize their lives. Photo: Phu Huong

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Phuc Tu - Head of Tuong Duong District Police added: The unit has reported and coordinated with the Provincial Police to verify that it is a false rumor, investigate and find the subject spreading the news causing panic, affecting security and order in the area to have a direction for handling; at the same time, focus on coordinating with Hoa Binh Town Police to check and protect people's property./.