Ensuring the safety of reservoirs and dams before the rainy season.

The unpredictable weather patterns and natural disasters caused by climate change, especially extreme rainfall and flooding, pose significant challenges to the management and operation of reservoirs and dams. This work needs to be strengthened, and solutions to ensure safety should be implemented promptly to minimize damage and impacts downstream, as well as to maintain stable water resources for socio-economic development.

The heavy rains that occurred from the night of June 10th to June 13th caused localized flooding in urban areas, inundation of low-lying areas, and flash floods on rivers in Da Nang city due to the influence of Typhoon No. 1 (Wutip). This is seen as a wake-up call about the abnormality and unusual nature of weather and natural disasters under the impact of climate change.

The rainfall measured on June 12, 2025, at the Da Nang station (Trung Nu Vuong Street) reached 402.3mm, nearly double the historical highest daily rainfall value in May and June of 1979 (212.4mm).

Due to localized heavy rainfall, floods on the Nam and Bac rivers (upstream of the Cu De River) began to rise rapidly from the afternoon of June 11th, and three flood peaks occurred at the Ta Lang - Gian Bi bridge on June 12th, reaching 15.48m (at 1:30 AM, about 6m higher than the flood peak), 13.8m (at 7:00 AM), and 14.11m (at 9:30 PM).

According to the Da Nang Urban Infrastructure Management Center (Department of Construction), at 5 PM on June 11th, when the water level upstream of the Nam My dam reached nearly 8 meters, the unit sent a notification to the local authorities and messaged a group chat on Zalo with 32 members in the downstream area about opening the sluice gates (raising the gates) at 9 PM that same day to release floodwaters. The unit notified the authorities 3 hours earlier than the stipulated operating procedure; and issued warning signals via loudspeakers (flood alarm sirens) 4 times. Twelve sluice gates were raised from 9 PM on June 11th to 1:20 AM on June 12th.

In response to the flooding caused by Typhoon No. 1, the Da Nang Urban Infrastructure Management Center followed the operating procedures of the Nam My dam and coordinated (notified) local authorities and units in the affected areas in a timely manner. According to observations, at approximately 1:00 AM on June 12th, when the 12 sluice gates of the Nam My dam were raised, floodwaters began to rise, inundating roads in Loc My and Nam Yen hamlets, Hoa Bac commune.

According to some experts and scientists , the Cu De River often experiences flash floods that rise rapidly and are dangerous. Although the Nam My dam does not have the function of cutting, reducing, or regulating floods, it has actually slowed down the flood downstream for a few hours (before and during the time the 12 sluice gates are opened to release floodwaters), giving units, businesses, and people downstream time to prepare for flash floods.

To ensure the safety of the dam and downstream areas during flash floods, Dr. Le Hung, lecturer at the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Danang University of Technology - Danang University, recommends that when heavy rain occurs and the water level upstream of the Nam My dam rises to 8m, the dam management and operation unit should open the sluice gates early to allow floodwaters to drain quickly.

The recent heavy rains have also filled most reservoirs in Da Nang city, with the water level in Hoa Trung reservoir rising 0.4m above the spillway, posing a high risk to the safety of the reservoirs.

According to Ho Nguyen Quoc Dung, Head of the Irrigation and Disaster Prevention Department of the Water Resources and Irrigation Management Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment), during the monitoring, inspection, and supervision of dams and reservoirs in the city, the unit has recorded some positive results, but many shortcomings and challenges remain.

To improve the efficiency of operation and ensure the safety of reservoirs and dams, the city is strengthening regular and unscheduled inspections of these structures to promptly detect and rectify any damage; and is accelerating investment in repairing and upgrading dilapidated reservoirs and dams to ensure safety during the rainy and stormy season.

Simultaneously, build an automated monitoring system for important reservoirs and dams to promptly detect potential incidents; strengthen training and improve the professional capacity of management and operation staff; and cooperate with domestic and foreign units to research and apply new technologies in monitoring and managing reservoirs and dams.

In addition, it is necessary to build an early warning system for floods and regulate water levels appropriately to minimize damage; strengthen coordination among relevant agencies, local authorities, businesses, and reservoir and dam operators...

“Ensuring the safety of dams and reservoirs is not only a technical and professional requirement, but also a crucial political task linked to the safety of people's lives and property, and the sustainable development of the city. To effectively carry out this task, close, synchronized, and continuous coordination is needed among all levels, sectors, local authorities, and communities, as well as support from domestic and international organizations, experts, and scientists, contributing to ensuring safety, flexibility, and effective adaptation to natural disasters and climate change,” said Mr. Ho Nguyen Quoc Dung.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/bao-dam-an-toan-ho-dap-truc-mua-mua-lu-3264848.html