Ministry of Agriculture and Environment directs hydropower to flexibly regulate floods

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requires hydroelectric reservoirs in Da Nang to operate flexibly, proactively lower water levels to welcome floods, and ensure safety against storm No. 13.

On the afternoon of November 4, a working delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep worked with the People's Committee of Da Nang City on the management of dikes, dams and hydropower operations to regulate floods in the area.

The Deputy Minister suggested that Da Nang must flexibly operate hydroelectric reservoirs to regulate floods according to actual forecasts. Photo: Lan Anh.

Need fundamental solutions, can't just move every time it rains

Reporting at the meeting, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Da Nang City Truong Xuan Ty said that during the annual flood season, in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin, hydroelectric reservoirs such as A Vuong, Dak Mi 4, Song Tranh 2, Song Bung 4, Song Bung 2, Khe Dien, Song Con 2... must operate according to the priority principles: construction safety, reducing downstream floods, providing water - generating electricity effectively and maintaining minimum flow.

There are 5 hydroelectric reservoirs including A Vuong, Dak Mi 4, Song Tranh 2, Song Bung 2, Song Bung 4 with regulations on the highest water level before flood and the lowest water level after flood.

During the recent floods, hydroelectric reservoirs in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin regulated and reduced flooding downstream, but the level of regulation was not optimal. Photo: Lan Anh.

During the flood season of October 25-30, 2025, the operation of the reservoirs in compliance with Procedure 1865 contributed to reducing floods and making use of flood prevention capacity. However, after October 28, most reservoirs reached normal water levels and switched to construction safety assurance mode.

Besides, during the recent rain and flood, through timely updating of information on direction and management of natural disaster prevention and control work, data on the operation and regulation of hydroelectric reservoirs has contributed to helping officials, people, news agencies and the press know, monitor and proactively take appropriate response measures.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Nang City Tran Nam Hung affirmed that during the flood that occurred from October 26 to 30, hydroelectric reservoirs in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin regulated and reduced flooding for downstream areas, but the level of regulation was not optimal.

Da Nang City had more than 76,000 houses flooded during the rains at the end of October 2025. Photo: Lan Anh.

Many houses in the downstream areas of major rivers were flooded. There were also dozens of major landslides and hundreds of small landslides in the city.

Every rainy and flood season, people in mountainous areas suffer a lot when they have to live with the fear of landslides, threatening their lives and property. The Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment support and have fundamental solutions to solve the above situation and pay attention to and have support programs to help people cope with natural disasters such as: building houses to avoid flooding, equipping boats, life buoys, etc. "It is impossible that every year, when the rainy and flood season comes, people have to move...", the Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee proposed.

At the same time, it is recommended that the Central Government pay attention and support resources for Da Nang city to build resettlement areas to relocate people in areas at high risk of landslides to new, safe places to soon stabilize their lives.

People in flooded areas of Hoa Xuan ward evacuate. Photo: Lan Anh.

Along with that, pay attention to supporting new livelihoods for people in mountainous areas, converting models from growing acacia trees to medicinal plants, large timber trees...

Flexible hydropower operation, avoiding rigidity

At the working session, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep informed that in the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 208/CD-TTg dated November 4, 2025 on proactive prevention, avoidance and response to storm Kalmaegi (storm No. 13), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment closely coordinated with the industry and trade sector and localities to direct, guide, inspect and supervise the operation of irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs, especially those in the inter-reservoir system, ensuring safety and efficiency to prevent dam safety; based on flood forecasts, proactively direct the lowering of water levels of irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs to catch floods...

Based on the above request of the Prime Minister and based on the forecast of heavy rain and flood flow forecast to hydroelectric reservoirs from the early morning of November 7 due to the impact of storm No. 13, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep has directed the urgent operation of lowering the water level of large hydroelectric reservoirs in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin, including: A Vuong, Dak Mi 4, Song Tranh 2, Song Bung 4 and Song Bung 2 to the water level capable of receiving floods according to the forecast, before the time of heavy rain.

Da Nang proposes that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment come up with fundamental solutions to support Da Nang residents. Photo: Lan Anh.

At the same time, it is recommended that Da Nang city flexibly operate hydroelectric reservoirs to regulate floods according to forecasts and developments of natural disasters in the context of climate change; hydroelectric reservoirs operate to regulate floods according to the city's direction; and not rigidly follow inter-reservoir operating procedures as in the recent flood season.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep agreed with Vice Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee Tran Nam Hung on how to coordinate the operation of hydroelectric reservoirs to regulate floods in some situations in the coming time and suggested that the city coordinate with relevant units to propose the content of adjusting the operation process of inter-reservoirs on the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin in an open and practical direction...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will propose to the Government on the operation of hydropower plants to regulate floods in the context of climate change to limit the impact of floods and minimize damage.

Working session scene. Photo: Lan Anh .

The Ministry will also coordinate with Da Nang city to continue to propose policies to fundamentally handle coastal erosion in the Cua Dai area and Hoi An Dong and Hoi An Tay wards; invest in water regulation works on the Quang Hue River, build a new An Trach dam; propose to invest in renovating an irrigation lake with a capacity of more than 20 million m3 of water to be able to regulate floods downstream...

The Deputy Minister also requested Da Nang city to urgently plan resettlement areas, relocate people in areas at high risk of landslides, and overcome the situation of temporary relocation during each rain and flood.

Director of the Department of Dyke Management and Flood Control Pham Duc Luan suggested that in response to storm No. 13, the city needs to ensure the safety of boats, guide fishermen to leave dangerous areas, and avoid high speed when the wind is strong to avoid accidents. At the same time, it is necessary to soon deploy the project to install an X-band weather radar station in Quang Nam (old), with a scanning range covering the entire Da Nang, helping to improve the capacity to forecast and warn of natural disasters in real time, serving timely and effective response.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/bo-nong-nghiep-va-moi-truong-chi-dao-thuy-dien-dieu-tiet-lu-linh-hoat-d782310.html