Clarifying the embankment overflow incident in Hung Yen: Not a dike break

The 80m spillway incident during high water in Hung Yen province was at Cu La canal, not the dike or the Red River dike as understood on social networks.

The Hung Yen Provincial Military Command mobilized 60 soldiers, along with the authorities and people of Hong Vu commune, to fix the problem on the afternoon of July 22. Photo: VOV

On the morning of July 23, the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hung Yen province officially reported on the incident that occurred at Cu La sluice gate (Hong Vu commune) after storm No. 3 made landfall.

According to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hung Yen province, from noon on July 22, heavy to very heavy rain combined with strong gusts of wind caused some sections of embankments in river mouths and low-lying areas along the Red River and Tra Ly River to overflow.

In particular, the Cu La canal bank area (located outside the Ta Hong Ha II dike) experienced an overflow of about 80m, affecting the lives of 42 households. However, this is not a secondary or main dike in the national dike system.

The official dispatch of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hung Yen province dated July 23 clearly stated: “Due to the impact of storm No. 3 in Hung Yen province, some embankments in river mouths, coastal areas, low-lying areas of the Red River mouth, Tra Ly River and alluvial plains along the river were overflowed. Including the incident of the overflow of the Cu La canal embankment (located outside the Ta Hong Ha II dike), Hong Vu commune with a total length of the overflow locations of 80m. The above incident occurred on the bank of the approach canal, not the embankment and Hong Ha II dike”.

A representative of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention said: the incident occurred at a low embankment, not a dike breach (as some newspapers and social networks reported) and the overflow area was outside the officially protected dike system. This embankment is often under pressure during heavy rains, and the pumping station operates to discharge floodwaters into the river.

On the afternoon of July 22, local authorities urgently deployed rescue forces, temporarily reinforced and evacuated people to safety.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hung Yen province said there were no casualties. The situation was under control by the morning of July 23.

The professional agency also noted that the press and social networks need to clearly distinguish between "dikes" and "dykes" to avoid misunderstanding the concepts in public opinion, affecting the direction and operation work and the psychology of people in downstream and inland areas (inside the dikes).

ANGEL

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lam-ro-su-co-tran-bo-bao-tai-hung-yen-khong-phai-vo-de-post805040.html