Floodwaters rise rapidly, threatening communities in Northern Vietnam
VOV.VN - Persistent heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Matmo, combined with discharge from upstream hydropower dams, has caused river levels across Northern Vietnam to surge swiftly in recent days, triggering serious risks of widespread flooding and landslides, especially in low-lying and mountainous regions.
The National Centre for Hydro‑Meteorological Forecasting reported that rivers such as the Cau, Thuong, Luc Nam, and their tributaries are rising rapidly, with several monitoring stations already exceeding alert levels II and III.
At 5:00 a.m. on October 8, the water level on the Cau River in Thai Nguyen province reached 29.90 metres, exceeding alert level III by 2.9 metres and surpassing the historic flood peak of 2024 by 1.09 metres. At the Thuong River in Bac Ninh province, water levels reached alert level III and continue to rise due to heavy upstream inflows.
Riverside communities in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, and Hanoi are now facing heightened flood threats.
In a recently issued dispatch, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requested the administrations of Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong to take urgent measures to protect dike systems and ensure preparedness for exceptionally high flood levels on the Cau, Thuong, and Luc Nam rivers.
According to the Department of Dike Management and Natural Disaster Prevention, flood levels on rivers in the Northern region will continue rising through October 9. Notably, water levels of the Thai Binh River in Hai Phong are expected to reach alert level II to III, while those of the Thao River in Lao Cai, the Lo River in Tuyen Quang, the Hoang Long River in Ninh Binh, and the upper Ma River in Thanh Hoa, are forecast to reach alert levels I to II, with some rivers exceeding level II.
Rising floodwaters may result in widespread flooding in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Lang Son, and Cao Bang. Flooding is also occurring in low-lying riverbank areas and urban zones throughout the Northern region and Thanh Hoa province. In addition, there is riverbank and dike erosion happening in multiple locations. Authorities issued red alerts for flashfloods and landslides in mountainous provinces such as Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, and Lang Son, where saturated soils and continuous rain are increasing slope instability.
Emergency response units have been deployed to reinforce dykes, evacuate residents from vulnerable zones, and maintain around-the-clock monitoring. Local administrations strongly urge the public to stay updated with weather advisories, avoid low-lying or riverside areas, and be prepared for emergency evacuations at short notice.
Over 300 personnel mobilised to respond to hydropower plant dam failure
VOV.VN - More than 300 military, police, and local government personnel have been mobilised in Lang Son province, Northern Vietnam, after a partial failure occurred at the Bac Khe 1 Hydropower Plant dam on October 7.
