Southern Vietnam’s largest hydropower dam to discharge water as flooding threatens HCMC, neighboring areas
The Tri An hydropower reservoir discharges water in 2021. Photo by Read/Phuoc Tuan
Tri An, the largest hydropower reservoir in southern Vietnam, will release water at 10 a.m. on Monday as rising Dong Nai River levels pose a flood risk to the region, including Ho Chi Minh City.
The Tri An Hydropower Company in Dong Nai Province, which borders HCMC, announced on Sunday that water will be discharged downstream at a rate of 1,000 cubic meters per second. The reservoir’s water level has reached 60.4 meters, approaching the maximum safe level of 62 meters.
The Dong Nai Meteorological and Hydrological Station reported a rapid rise in the Dong Nai River’s water level.
This situation poses risks of flooding and landslides for many localities along the river in Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces, and HCMC.
On Sunday morning, the upstream water level reached 112.76 meters, the highest recorded this year, and is expected to rise to 113 meters by Monday morning, nearing flood warning level 3, the most dangerous level. The downstream peak level on Sunday morning was 1.95 meters, nearing the threshold for flood warning level 2.
Flooding warning level 2 in Vietnam indicates that floodwaters continue to rise, leading to widespread flooding in flat areas, except for towns and cities protected by dikes. This condition increases the risk of erosion to dikes, bridges, and riverbanks.
At flood level 3, the water levels are extremely high, causing widespread flooding, including in cities. The risk of damage to infrastructure and the safety of river dike systems becomes very serious.
Nguyen Phuoc Huy, director of the meteorological station, noted that the river’s condition is complex due to heavy rains in upstream areas. Local residents and authorities are advised to closely monitor weather developments to effectively respond to rising water levels and minimize damage.
The Tri An hydropower reservoir spans 323 square kilometers in the Dong Nai River basin and is used to generate power, ensure water supply for domestic use and agriculture, mitigate salinity and regulate flooding in the downstream region.
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