Dam collapses in the Central Highlands, specifically in Quynh Thang commune (Quynh Luu district).

(Baonghean.vn) - At approximately 11:30 AM today, September 11th, a section of the Tay Nguyen dam in Quynh Thang commune, Quynh Luu district, broke, causing dozens of households to be submerged in water. The water rose quickly, catching many residents off guard, resulting in soaked rice and swept away belongings (no casualties reported).

Dam collapses in the Central Highlands.

At approximately 3:30 PM today, September 11th, we arrived at the scene of the Tay Nguyen Dam. A 400-meter stretch of the inter-communal road was flooded to a depth of about 50 cm, causing traffic congestion. The swirling water continued to rush down the embankment, with nearly 100 meters of the embankment destroyed. The flooding damaged 5 hectares of rice fields and knocked down several power poles. The water level in the reservoir had receded by about 7-8 meters, and hundreds of people were flocking to the reservoir to catch fish.

People swarmed into the lake to catch fish.

Mr. Bui Van Tien, Chairman of Quynh Thang commune, said: The Tay Nguyen dam was built in 1966 and has a capacity of 1 million cubic meters.³The dam provides irrigation water for 200 hectares of rice paddies. In 2009, the dam was upgraded, mainly by building on top of the old dam body. Numerous termite nests appeared beneath the old dam body, causing leaks. In 2011, the Tay Nguyen dam had one termite nest treated. The cause of the dam breach is under investigation, but it has been initially determined that termites ate away at the dam body. Around noon today, after discovering a leak, the district and commune mobilized hundreds of people to cut down eucalyptus trees to address the problem, but the dam body had already collapsed and the dam had broken.

Floodwaters damaged rice crops, submerged roads and people's homes.

Mr. Le Duc Cuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Luu District, said: Immediately after the incident occurred, the People's Committee of Quynh Luu District directed decisive action, relocating people and property from over 20 households, ensuring no loss of life or property. At the same time, more than 10 transport vehicles and 2 excavators were mobilized to dump over 500 cubic meters of debris.³The land will be used to reinforce the dam body at the breached section after the water recedes. Regarding the incident, after the water recedes, instructions will be given to build a "green embankment" to address the technical issues at the base of the dam body, and repairs will be carried out urgently to store water for the people.

Mobilize trucks to transport soil to repair and rebuild the dam embankment.

Van Truong