All night evacuation of people due to risk of 1.7 million m³ reservoir bursting

Hundreds of people in Ta Nang commune, Lam Dong province were urgently evacuated on the night of November 7 because the 1.7 million m³ irrigation reservoir was at risk of bursting after prolonged heavy rain.

On the evening of November 7, Lam Dong province's functional forces mobilized all human resources and vehicles to respond to the emergency incident at Cay An irrigation reservoir in Ta Nang commune. The reservoir has a designed capacity of about 1.7 million m³, serving irrigation for more than 250 hectares of agricultural land in the downstream area. After many days of heavy rain due to the circulation of storm No. 13, the water level of the reservoir rose, the dam body appeared many cracks, subsidence and water seepage, threatening the safety of the project.

On the night of November 7, authorities coordinated with local people to reinforce the dam body and evacuate people from dangerous areas. Photo: Provided by the Provincial People's Committee.

According to Mr. Nguyen Vu Linh Sang, Chairman of Ta Nang Commune People's Committee, at around 8:30 p.m., the local government issued an emergency evacuation order for more than 100 households in Chan Rang Hao and Tou Nhe villages, located right downstream of the lake. People were taken to schools, communal houses and religious establishments, where they were provided with temporary accommodation, drinking water and necessities. Police, militia and youth union members coordinated with the government to be on duty at evacuation points to ensure security, order and logistical support.

Authorities evacuate people from dangerous areas at risk of landslides. Photo: Provided by the Provincial People's Committee.

At the scene, hundreds of police officers, soldiers, army officers and lake management staff were urgently mobilized during the night. Mechanical vehicles, pumps, sandbags, and waterproofing tarpaulins were deployed to reinforce the dam body, lower the water level and prevent seepage.

Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi was present at the scene to direct the rescue work. He requested the units to mobilize maximum local forces, quickly lower the water level in the lake to reduce pressure on the dam body, and at the same time ensure absolute safety for the people. Mr. Muoi emphasized that the evacuation must be completed at night, not leaving any households in the area at risk of being affected. The province has activated all emergency response plans according to the "4 on-site" motto, mobilizing military, police, forest rangers and youth volunteers to be on duty all night.

Colonel Dinh Hong Tieng, Commander of Lam Dong Provincial Military Command, was present at the scene to direct the evacuation and ensure the safety of the people. Photo: Provided by Lam Dong Provincial Military Command.

According to the Lam Dong Provincial Civil Defense Command, the Cay An Lake dam was built with earth and rock in 2007 and is now degraded. When heavy rains continue, water from tributaries flows in, causing the water level to rise rapidly, creating great pressure on the left shoulder of the dam. This location has a crack longer than 50 m, open 0.2-0.5 m and subsided 30-50 cm, with obvious water seepage. If the dam breaks, about 200 hectares of agricultural land and hundreds of households downstream could be swept away.

By the early morning of November 8, the work of lowering the water level of the lake was continuously carried out using a temporary spillway system and high-capacity pumps. Functional units also drilled concrete, drove wooden piles, covered the entire dam body with waterproof tarpaulin and arranged forces to be on duty 24/7.

On the afternoon of November 7, the dam body cracked in many large areas. Photo: Provided by the Provincial People's Committee.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Muoi requested that after the incident is under control, the Department of Agriculture and Environment and localities review all dams that are at risk of being unsafe, especially those that have been built for a long time, have earth and rock structures, are located in areas with heavy rain and steep terrain. The province will make a comprehensive assessment, develop a plan for reinforcement and periodic maintenance to avoid a similar incident from happening again.

According to the Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the Lam Dong region will continue to have moderate to heavy rain, and in some places very heavy rain and strong thunderstorms in the coming days. Prolonged heavy rain can increase the risk of landslides and collapses and affect the safety of medium and small dams.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/trang-dem-di-doi-dan-truoc-nguy-co-vo-ho-chua-17-trieu-m-d783061.html