Dams release water, flood several areas hinh anh 1Thua Thien-Hue was hit by heavy rains, with 100-200mm falling in places due to a strong cold spell. The province is working to ensure local residents’ safety and limit losses (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Seven dams and reservoirs in Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue provinces have begun releasing water as the central region experiences torrential downpours.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the tropical depression that made landfall in the south-central region over the weekend, together with a cold spell coming down from the north, have brought heavy rain to four localities in the mid-central region, including the provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam, as well as Da Nang city.

The weather centre has issued alerts on potential flash floods, landslides and flooding in lowland areas in these localities.

The three biggest dams and reservoirs in Thua Thien-Hue Province were ordered to release water on Sunday night. The Ta Trach Reservoir was releasing water at the rate of 80 cubic metres per second, while the Huong Dien and Binh Dien dams did so at the high rates of 1,994 and 1,809 cubic metres per second, respectively, as of early November 20.

Thua Thien-Hue has experienced downpours since Sunday, with water levels rising rapidly, according to a Viet Nam News correspondent in the province.

Several roads in Hue city and the Quang Dien and Huong Tra districts are already flooded.

The Thua Thien-Hue hydro-meteorological station has said that rain would continue until November 25, with the total amount of rainfall potentially reaching up to 300-400mm.

Five mountainous communes of Phong Dien, Phu Loc, Huong Thuy, Nam Dong and A Luoi have been placed under red alert for landslides and flash floods.

Torrential rain in Quang Nam province also forced four hydropower dams to release water down into the downstream sections of Vu Gia and Thu Bon rivers.

As of 9am on November 20 morning, A Vuong dam released water at the rate of 137 cubic metres per second, while the Dak Mi 4, Song Bung 4 and Song Tranh 2 dams did so at 127, 260 and 290 cubic metres per second, respectively.

Heavy rains, combined with the release of water by dams, flooded several areas in Dai Loc and Nong Son districts. Flooded roads have isolated three communes in Dai Loc and another four in Nong Son from the district centre.-VNA
VNA