Floods in Dak Lak rose suddenly: La Hieng 2 Hydropower Plant operator said it was due to overflow, no flood discharge

Regarding the sudden flood in Dak Lak during storm Kalmaegi, the unit operating the spillway of La Hieng 2 hydropower reservoir said that due to the heavy and widespread rainfall from upstream, the water overflowed the dam instead of releasing floodwaters.

A house in Dong Xuan commune ( Dak Lak ) was flooded up to half way - Photo: MINH CHIEN

On November 7, at an online meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to deploy damage recovery work after storm No. 13, Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee Ta Anh Tuan said the cause of the rapid flood that flooded some areas in Dong Xuan commune was due to the design of La Hieng 2 Hydropower Plant.

Regarding this, Mr. Tran Tan Cuong - Deputy General Director of VRG Phu Yen Joint Stock Company (the unit managing and operating the spillway of La Hieng 2 Hydropower Reservoir) - said that La Hieng 2 Reservoir is a free spillway with a self-tilting valve. When the water reaches a certain level, it will overflow by itself, the amount of water rising and falling depends on natural water due to rain, so it cannot be intervened.

According to Mr. Cuong, this reservoir is like a spillway, the unit always updates the situation about every 15 minutes in local flood and storm prevention information groups.

"Because the rainfall in the upper Gia Lai province was so heavy and widespread, the water flooded the lake very quickly," Mr. Cuong explained.

According to the leader of Dong Xuan Commune People's Committee, La Hieng 2 Hydropower Plant reported on the reservoir operation and regulation situation until 9:00 p.m. on November 6.

Specifically, with the lake water level at 201.41/196.10m (normal water level), the downstream flow is over 5,000m³/s.

Previously, reservoirs and hydropower plants had proactively released water to regulate and reduce flooding in the downstream areas. Therefore, when storm No. 13 causes heavy rain, reservoirs and hydropower plants will release water and regulate the lake according to regulations.

For La Hieng 2 hydropower reservoir, this is a reservoir with a natural overflow structure. When the lake is full, it will overflow by itself, so it is impossible to intervene to release floodwaters.

NGUYEN HOANG - MINH CHIEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lu-o-dak-lak-dang-cao-dot-ngot-don-vi-van-hanh-thuy-dien-la-hieng-2-noi-do-tran-khong-xa-lu-20251107135912812.htm