The false information appeared on several social media accounts on the afternoon of 27/7, attracting many comments and shares. Thousands of residents living downstream of the Ban Ve hydropower plant in Yen Na commune, formerly Tuong Duong district, feared flooding and fled to the mountains with their possessions.
A resident of Tam Quang commune, formerly Tuong Duong district, said he was cleaning his house when he heard shouts of "dam burst". He ran outside and saw others carrying their belongings toward a nearby mountain. Despite not knowing whether the rumor was true, he called his family members to evacuate.
 |
Downstream residents flee to the mountains after hearing the false rumor of the Ban Ve hydropower dam bursting on the afternoon of 27/7. Photo: Hung Le |
Downstream residents flee to the mountains after hearing the false rumor of the Ban Ve hydropower dam bursting on the afternoon of 27/7. Photo: Hung Le
Nghe An provincial police are investigating the source of the false "dam burst" rumor, which caused public panic and affected security and order. They intend to take strict action against the perpetrator.
Ta Huu Hung, Director of the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, stated that the Ban Ve dam is operating safely and shows no signs of abnormality. The water inflow to the reservoir at 8 PM on 27/7 was 1,800 m3/s, and the discharge rate was the same.
"The information greatly affected the lives of people downstream. After representatives from the plant and local authorities posted images of the actual situation online, confirming the dam was intact, the residents returned home," Hung said.
According to Hung, it is currently raining in Yen Na commune and several neighboring communes in the former Tuong Duong district. The inflow to the Ban Ve reservoir is forecast to be 2,200 m3/s tonight, then gradually decrease.
 |
The Ban Ve hydropower plant during a flood discharge in 2024. Photo: Linh Chi |
The Ban Ve hydropower plant during a flood discharge in 2024. Photo: Linh Chi
The Ban Ve hydropower plant is the largest project in the North Central region, located at the headwaters of the Ca River in Yen Na commune, formerly Tuong Duong district. It has a designed capacity of 320 MW, a normal water level of 200 m, a reservoir capacity of 1.8 billion m3, and was connected to the national grid in 2010. The project's implementation required the relocation of 2,910 households with 13,735 people from 31 villages in 8 communes around the reservoir area.
Nghe An currently has 23 hydropower reservoirs in operation, including 8 that operate under a multi-reservoir system on the Ca River basin: Ban Ve, Khe Bo, Chi Khe, Nam Non, Nam Mo, Ban Ang, Nhac Hac An, and Chau Thang. The remaining reservoirs operate individually.
 |
Flooding in Con Cuong commune, formerly Con Cuong district, downstream of the Ban Ve hydropower plant, on 23/7. Photo: Duc Hung |
Flooding in Con Cuong commune, formerly Con Cuong district, downstream of the Ban Ve hydropower plant, on 23/7. Photo: Duc Hung
Due to Typhoon Wipha, Nghe An is experiencing heavy rain. Flooding from upstream combined with water discharged from hydropower plants has caused inundation, flash floods, and landslides in dozens of communes in formerly mountainous districts such as Ky Son, Con Cuong, Quy Chau, Que Phong, and Anh Son. So far, authorities have recorded 4 deaths due to landslides and floods, with nearly 6,600 households and over 31,000 people in 10 mountainous communes isolated.
Duc Hung
