Ensuring the safety of irrigation works before heavy rain in the Central region

“Inspecting and reviewing key irrigation works and the risk of incidents to proactively deploy response plans to ensure the safety of the works; paying special attention to the safety of irrigation reservoirs with earth dams and free spillways that have maintained high water levels in the recent rainy areas…” is one of the instructions of the Department of Management and Construction of Irrigation Works, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Official Dispatch No. 22/CD-TL-ATD on ensuring the safety of irrigation works, responding to flooding and inundation caused by heavy rain in provinces and cities in the area from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and the East of Quang Ngai province.

Technical staff of Quang Nam Irrigation Exploitation One Member Co., Ltd. supervise the reservoir operation and regulation process. Photo: Doan Huu Trung/VNA

To proactively prevent and ensure the safety of irrigation works and respond to floods, inundation, and minimize damage caused by heavy rains, the Director of the Department of Management and Construction of Irrigation Works requests the Directors of the Departments of Agriculture and Environment in the provinces and cities in the area from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and the East of Quang Ngai province; Investors in construction projects for new construction, repair, and upgrade of irrigation works in the provinces and cities in the area from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and the East of Quang Ngai province; Directors of units managing and exploiting irrigation works in the provinces and cities from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and the East of Quang Ngai province strictly implement the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 203/CD-TTg dated October 27, 2025 on focusing on emergency response and overcoming the consequences of heavy rain and floods in the Central region and Official Dispatch No. 21/CD-BCĐ-BNNMT dated October 27, 2025 of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee on proactively responding to exceptionally large floods on rivers in Hue city and emergency floods on rivers in Da Nang city.

Units should strengthen close monitoring of hydrometeorological and rain and flood forecast bulletins of specialized hydrometeorological agencies and reservoir regulation advisory bulletins of scientific units under the Ministry to proactively operate irrigation works, adapt to the flood situation. In particular, continue to inspect and review key irrigation works, risk of incidents to proactively deploy response plans to ensure the safety of the works; pay special attention to the safety of irrigation reservoirs with earth dams, free spillways that have maintained high water levels in the recent rainy area, the dam body has been saturated with water, weakening the dam structure, reservoirs under construction are ready with response plans for heavy rain (pay attention to deep works, underground works, diversion works; ensure safety for people, machinery, construction equipment...). For important irrigation reservoirs that do not ensure safety, it is necessary to consider limiting water storage or not storing water.

Units continue to proactively organize the operation of reservoirs according to approved operating procedures; reservoirs with flood discharge gates, adjust the reservoir water level to ensure absolute safety of the works and not discharge flood water abnormally causing unsafety to downstream areas; strictly implement early warning to people in downstream areas before reservoirs discharge flood water and when there is a risk of an incident. Specifically delineate areas flooded due to continued rain, organize the operation of irrigation works to drain water to minimize damage caused by flooding and waterlogging.

The Department of Irrigation Construction and Management recommends organizing a 24/7 shift during periods of rain and floods; arranging permanent personnel at construction sites at risk of incidents; promptly handling unusual situations in the first hour and implementing response according to the "four on-site" principle when construction incidents occur. After the end of the rainy season, it is necessary to re-evaluate the implementation of operating procedures and sluice gate operating procedures; report to competent authorities for approval of adjustments (if any).

People in the affected areas are specifically informed about the flood discharge time so that they can proactively take preventive measures to minimize possible damage. Photo: Doan Huu Trung/VNA

The Department of Irrigation Construction and Management said that all irrigation reservoirs are closely monitoring weather conditions, water levels and construction status, operating reservoirs in accordance with approved operating procedures; reservoirs with flood discharge gates are adjusting reservoir water levels to ensure construction safety and not releasing floodwaters abnormally, causing unsafety to downstream areas; and at the same time, storing water appropriately for reservoirs with low storage capacity.

With reservoirs in the Central and Central Highlands regions managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Cua Dat reservoir (Thanh Hoa) and Ta Trach reservoir (Hue) are operating to discharge water to ensure safety for the projects.

Forecast, from the morning of October 28 to the night of October 29, in the area from South Quang Tri to Da Nang City and the East of Quang Ngai province, there will be heavy to very heavy rain with common rainfall in South Quang Tri and the East of Quang Ngai province of 150-300mm, locally over 500mm, Hue and Da Nang commonly 200-400mm, locally over 600mm; the area from Ha Tinh to North Quang Tri will have moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms with common rainfall of 80-150mm, locally over 300mm. Warning of risk of heavy rain (over 200mm/3 hours).

Warning on October 30, in the area from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and the East of Quang Ngai province, there will be moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms with common rainfall of 30-70mm, locally very heavy rain over 100mm.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/dam-bao-an-toan-cong-trinh-thuy-loi-truoc-mua-lon-o-trung-bo-20251028123134678.htm