In a dispatch sent to leaders of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, and Son La, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, Ninh Binh provinces as well as the Vietnam Electricity, the PM noted that Typhoon Yagi, the third storm in the East Sea so far this year, carried torrential rains to the northern region, forcing many hydropower reservoirs in the northern midland and mountainous areas to urgently discharge water to ensure the safety of hydroelectric projects.

A view of Thac Ba hydropower reservoir.

Currently, the water level downstream of rivers in the Red River - Thai Binh River basin is high, with above Level-3 alerts in some places, while some rivers are close to or have exceeded historical levels, threatening the safety of the dike systems, causing flooding in many residential areas, schools, medical facilities, and other essential infrastructure.

In order to minimise impact from flooding to people’s life and production and ensure utmost safety for reservoirs, the PM requested the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade to coordinate with the chairpersons of the above-mentioned localities to direct the operators of reservoirs to regularly monitor the developments of rain and floods in the basin, focusing on operating and regulating reservoirs, flexibly cutting, reducing, and slowing down floods to the downstream, while ensuring safety for hydropower plants and strictly following the inter-reservoir operation procedure.

Reservoir operators must strictly follow reporting regulations, providing information to authorised agencies of localities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to help them take timely response measures in emergency circumstances, the Government leader asked.

They were requested to closely cooperate with authorities in the downstream area of the dam and relevant agencies to strictly notify and warn local people of flood developments and flood control operations, enabling them to apply preventive measures.

PM Chinh assigned Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha to take the charge of directing ministries and localities to implement this dispatch.

On September 12, the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that water in many rivers, including Thao, Lo, Cau, Luc Nam, Thai Binh, Hoang Long and Hong (Red) Rivers is receding.

However, the flood level in the Hong-Thai Binh river system remains high, receding slowly, with a risk of flooding and other natural disasters.

According to experts, the process of flood easing in the Hong River system is slow. Therefore, flooding in riverside areas in the coming days is likely to linger on in low-lying areas of Hanoi, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Ha Nam, and Hai Duong.

Prolonged high flood levels can cause risks of overflowing and landslides in riverside dykes in Hanoi, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, and Ninh Binh, while risks of flash floods and landslides remain in the mountainous areas of the north, they warned.

Prime Minister gives Yen Bai on-site directions on flood, landslide response

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 12 gave on-site directions in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai on the settlement of the serious consequences of the downpour, landslides, and flooding entailing recent Typhoon Yagi.

Kind hearts support for flood-hit areas

BAC GIANG- Typhoon Yagi has triggered widespread floods, isolated many localities, caused loss of life and assets in northern province of Bac Giang. Many organizations, units and individuals have joined hands with the entire political system to implement a number of voluntary activities towards the flood-hit areas to share difficulties with local people.

PM calls for swift action in flood-hit Bac Giang

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged Bac Giang province's authorities to balance disaster recovery efforts with maintaining economic activity, especially in industrial zones, as the province is a key industrial hub in northern Vietnam.

Bac Giang industrial parks well maintain production after storms and floods

BAC GIANG – In recent days, despite being affected by storm No. 3 and heavy rain, production activities in industrial parks (IPs) in Bac Giang province have been operating normally thanks to proactive response and effort to overcome the arising difficulties.

Northern river floods reach highest levels in over five decades

The water levels on the Thao River in northern Vietnam have surged past 87 meters, breaking a 53-year record, while the Cau River swelled to nearly 29 meters, surpassing a 65-year record high.