Attention to the possibility of reservoir insecurity

Attending the meeting were leaders of the General Department of Hydrometeorology, the Institute of Hydrometeorology and Climate Change, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment . The meeting was connected online to regional hydrometeorological stations and hydrometeorological stations of the Central provinces.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh gave a speech at the meeting.

Reporting at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Huong - Head of Weather Forecast Department (National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting) said that in recent days, heavy rain has occurred in many localities in the Central region. In the coming days, the situation of heavy rain, floods, inundation, flash floods, and landslides is forecasted to continue to have complicated developments.

Total rainfall from 7pm on October 10 to 1pm on October 14, in the area of 5 provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Nam , total rainfall is from 150 to over 700mm. There are some isolated spots over 1100mm. In Ha Tinh, rainfall is 150-350mm, in some places over 550mm. In Quang Binh area, in the North 200-300mm, in some places over 350mm; in the South 100-200mm. In Quang Tri area 150-300mm, in some places over 400mm. In Thua Thien - Hue province 400-800mm, in some places over 1000mm (like in Huong Tra). Da Nang city 400-700mm, in some places over 700mm. In Quang Nam area 250-550mm, in some places over 700mm.

Forecast for the period from the night of October 14 to October 20, 2023, the Central region is affected by a combination of bad weather patterns causing heavy rain, including: the tropical convergence zone with an axis passing through the Central Central region connecting with the low pressure area in the Central region of the East Sea, this low vortex is likely to move to the West (towards the Central region); cold air waves are often strengthened and supplemented, the East wind zone is active at an altitude of 1,500-5,000 m.

From the afternoon of October 14 to October 16: in Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam areas 300-500mm, some places over 800mm, in areas from Quang Binh , Quang Tri, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai there is heavy to very heavy rain with common rainfall from 150-250mm, some places over 400mm; in Ha Tinh area there is common rain 50-100mm, some places over 150mm.

From the night of October 16 to 17: rain tends to expand to the North, the rainy area tends to expand to the mountainous area in the West of the Central region; the area from South Nghe An to Binh Dinh has heavy rain of 100-300mm, some places over 500mm. After October 17, heavy rain in the Central region will continue, the rainy area will continue to expand to the North and develop complicatedly.

From today (October 14) to October 17: A flood will occur on rivers in the provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai, with flood levels rising from 3-9m in the upper reaches of rivers and from 2-4m in the lower reaches. During this flood, the peak water level in the upper reaches of La River (Ha Tinh), rivers in Quang Binh, Quang Ngai will rise to levels BĐ1-BĐ2 and above BĐ2; rivers in Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam will rise to levels BĐ2-BĐ3, and small rivers will rise above BĐ3. There is a high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, localized flooding in low-lying areas along rivers and urban areas in the provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai, especially a very high risk from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Nam. Solutions are needed to ensure safety for important small hydropower and irrigation works. Warning level of natural disaster risk due to flash floods, landslides, land subsidence due to heavy rain or water flow: Level 2. Flash floods and landslides can have very negative impacts on the environment, threaten people's lives; cause local traffic congestion, affect the movement of vehicles; destroy civil and economic works, causing damage to production activities, economic and social activities.

Mr. Mai Van Khiem - Director of National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting

Heavy rain is concentrated in coastal areas, and if it continues, it could cause coastal freshwater salinization, affecting aquaculture in coastal areas, especially in Thua Thien Hue.

Boats and aquaculture cages in the central coastal region should be aware of the risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in the coming days due to the influence of a low pressure area operating in the East Sea, which is likely to move into the coastal areas of Central and South Central Vietnam in the next 24 to 48 hours.

At the meeting, delegates attending the online meeting focused on discussing the work of forecasting the impact of heavy rain with the potential risk of flooding, inundation and landslides in the Central region in the coming time. The forecasting work of the national hydro-meteorological forecasting system and regional hydro-meteorological stations, provincial hydro-meteorological stations focused on reviewing and collecting a list of areas identified as at risk of landslides, flash floods and flash floods to focus on forecasting and warning for the areas. The preparation of human and material resources to proactively respond to heavy rain, inundation, floods and landslides was also of concern.

The leader of the Central Central Region Hydrometeorological Station said that in the Central Central Region, the rain has been concentrated since yesterday morning (October 13), some areas have had very heavy rain causing flooding such as in Thua Thien - Hue and Da Nang. Many places have been flooded from 1-1.5 m. In that context, the response to heavy rain has been deployed early and seriously by the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue. It is forecasted that this evening (October 14) and tomorrow, the rain will cause more flooding.

Regarding response work, the provinces have given specific instructions to relevant agencies to be on duty, and rescue forces are ready. Da Nang City has evacuated many people at high risk of being affected, and is continuing to review flooded areas and areas at high risk of landslides to evacuate them, avoiding unfortunate incidents. Commenting on the upcoming flood situation, the leader of the Central Central Hydrometeorological Station agreed with the forecast of the National Hydrometeorological Forecasting Center. At the same time, he said that the Station has prepared means, techniques, and human resources to promptly and accurately forecast this heavy rain.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Le Hong Phong - Deputy Director General of the General Department of Hydrometeorology emphasized that on October 9, the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting issued a document on the heavy rain situation. The Deputy Director General assessed that in recent days, the forecasting and response preparation work of central and local agencies has been very proactive. The warnings and assessments of the hydrometeorological forecasting agencies of relevant regions are close to reality, contributing to the direction of natural disaster prevention.

Mr. Le Hong Phong - Deputy Director General of the General Department of Hydrometeorology spoke at the meeting.

Regarding forecasting work in the coming time, Mr. Le Hong Phong requested the entire forecasting system to continue to focus highly, closely monitoring all possible developments. Pay attention to warnings focusing on the issue of flooding and landslides, especially in the context of the East Sea appearing a low pressure area that may strengthen. Currently, heavy rain in the Central region still shows signs of complexity, with the possibility of unusually heavy rain. On the other hand, the low pressure area may expand to the North, so timely warnings and information are needed to be proactive in prevention work. Pay attention to the issue of landslides in the Central Highlands. Mr. Le Hong Phong also requested regional hydrometeorological stations, provincial and municipal hydrometeorological stations to direct stations to ensure the safety of officers and employees working in floods, protect the safety of station facilities and equipment, promptly serve hydrometeorological forecasts and warnings closely following reality to help reduce damage caused by natural disasters.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh highly appreciated the General Department of Hydrometeorology for closely monitoring and promptly forecasting the developments of heavy rains in recent days. He welcomed the localities for closely following the reality to effectively serve the response work. In the following days, it is necessary to pay more attention to the possibility of unsafe reservoirs and landslides, especially in the Central Highlands - a key area of landslides. Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh requested the General Department of Hydrometeorology to continue to focus all human resources and technology to monitor, analyze data, and forecast the developments of heavy rains in the Central region in the coming time to issue timely warnings to contribute to minimizing damage to the lives and property of the State and the People.

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