Floodwaters on several rivers have risen above the third-stage warning level, while damage from heavy rains and flooding continues to mount across several northeastern localities. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has called for stronger protection of the dike system amid the risk of prolonged flooding and rainfall.
The Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention said on the afternoon of August 23 that a review of data as of noon showed 7,877 hectares of crops had been inundated and damaged, while 2,506 houses had been flooded, mainly in Lang Son.
Compared with figures updated that morning, the area of inundated and damaged crops rose from 2,865 hectares to 7,877 hectares, while the number of flooded houses increased from 733 to 2,506.
Lang Son reported 6,100 hectares of inundated and damaged crops and 2,506 flooded houses; Bac Ninh reported 1,699 hectares of inundated crops; and Quang Ninh reported 78 hectares.
Heavy rains and flooding also caused 735 landslide and inundation sites, resulting in localized traffic disruptions in Lang Son and Bac Ninh. In Lang Son, 100 livestock and 6,000 poultry died.
Power systems in several areas were also affected. Nine medium-voltage power lines and 130 substations are currently without power, with electricity authorities deliberately cutting power at some locations to ensure safety.
As of noon August 23, 17,812 customers were without electricity, including 15,737 in Lang Son, 307 in Quang Ninh and 1,768 in Bac Ninh. In Lang Son, 47 low-voltage power poles were broken or knocked down.
Local authorities have evacuated 2,965 households, including 2,736 in Lang Son, 27 in Quang Ninh, 80 in Bac Ninh and 122 in Thanh Hoa.
Flood levels on rivers in the Northeastern region continued to rise, with many locations exceeding the Level 3 warning threshold.
At 10 a.m., the water level of the Luc Nam River at Chu in Bac Ninh was 0.67 meters above the third-stage warning level. The Thuong River at Cau Son in Bac Ninh was 0.52 meters above the third-stage warning level, while at Huu Lung in Lang Son, the Thuong River was 1.34 meters above the third-stage warning level. The Ky Cung River at Lang Son was 0.23 meters above the third-stage warning level.
At noon August 23, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep signed a document sent to the People's Committees of Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong, calling for measures to ensure the safety of the dike system.
The Ministry asked localities to implement dike protection plans, safeguard vulnerable key sections of dikes, locations where previous incidents have yet to be repaired, and construction projects that remain unfinished.
