HCMC – The Red River’s water levels have exceeded the historic records set in 1968 and 2008 and are forecast to continue rising, as hydropower reservoirs have opened their floodgates due to incessant rain being induced by typhoon Yagi.
On the morning of September 10, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting issued a special advisory on flooding in the Red River and an urgent flood warning for Cau, Lo, Thuong, and Luc Nam rivers in the northern region.
As of 5 a.m. today, water levels of the Red River in Lao Cai Province are 2.68 meters above alert level 3. In Bao Ha of Lao Cai Province, it is 0.88 meter above the historic flood level of 2008. Meanwhile, it is 0.8 meter above the historical flood level of 1968 in Yen Bai.
Water levels of the Lo River are now only 0.36 meter below alert level 3, while in the Cau River in Dap Cau, it is 0.24 meter below alert level 3.
The meteorological agency forecasts that this afternoon, flooding in the Red River in Lao Cai City will recede, while at Bao Ha (Lao Cai) and Yen Bai, water levels are expected to keep rising and remain above the historical flood level of 1968.
In Hanoi, the Red River may reach above alert level 1 by noon.
Low-lying areas in eight northern provinces and cities, including Hanoi, are at high risk of flooding.
As the Red River’s water levels rose rapidly late on September 9 and early on September 10, several residential areas in the districts of Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, and Hoan Kiem were submerged under water.
The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has advised districts and towns to get prepared to evacuate residents living in the mid-river areas of the Red River within the districts of Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Long Bien, and others.
Starting from 8:30 a.m. on September 10, passenger vehicles, including contract and tourist vans with more than nine seats, as well as trucks with a load capacity exceeding 0.5 ton are prohibited from traveling on Chuong Duong Bridge.
The Tuyen Quang Hydroelectric Reservoir has opened eight bottom sluice gates, while the Thac Ba Hydroelectric Reservoir and the Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Reservoir are also opening sluice gates to discharge swelling floodwater. The floodwater discharge from these three reservoirs is pushing the Red River’s water levels to swell further.
