The hydropower plant under construction in Chư Prông District, Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, has been damaged due to floods. VNA/VNS Photo Hoài Nam

GIA LAI — A hydropower plant under construction in Chư Prông District, Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, has been damaged due to floods, causing heavy losses to farm produce and posing severe environmental consequences.

The Ia Glae 2 hydropower plant, being built on the Ia Glae Stream, was hit by a sudden water influx with a high flow rate caused by torrential rain in the region from Sunday night to early Monday morning.

The nearly 100m long, 4m high dam body of the plant was almost washed away.

The hydroelectric project with a design capacity of 12MW and an investment capital of over VNĐ423 billion is under construction on an area of 83.7 hectares.

Floodwaters flattened the dam body and swept away dozens of hectares of crops on both sides of the stream.

Coffee, pepper, cashew, banana, and coconut were the main plants damaged.

The floodwater also partially broke the second-order spillway of the hydropower plant.

Đặng Văn Dậu, a resident of Chư Prông District, said since the hydroelectric power plant started its construction, there has been a larger flow of water every flood season, leading to the collapse of the dam body.

The incident completely washed away nearly 2.5 hectares of his family's crops and long-term industrial trees.

Đào Văn Hà, another resident, said floods from upstream clashed with the Ia Glae 2 hydroelectric plant and created huge pressure, causing the dam to break, sweeping everything away. All the crops that he had cared for many years have gone.

The dam collapse also polluted domestic and irrigation water sources for 19 households and affected dozens of hectares of plants, which are mostly long-term crops with high economic value.

Local people said that although there was no loss of life, this was a serious incident, causing huge damages to their property. However, when the incident occurred, the district People's Committee did not promptly report it to higher authorities, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Nguyễn Văn Luyến, head of the district’s Section of Agriculture and Rural Development, said local authorities are coordinating with Khải Hoàng Hydropower Joint Stock Company to review a list of affected households.

Before each rainy and stormy season, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee issues documents directing relevant agencies to inspect, monitor, and ensure the safety of hydroelectric and irrigation projects in the province.

The provincial People's Committee has asked project owners and local authorities to strengthen measures to prevent and respond to possible incidents.

The Ia Glae 2 Hydropower Plant was invested in by Khải Hoàng Hydropower Joint Stock Company, headquartered in Pleiku City, Gia Lai province.

The power plant’s investment was approved by the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee in February 2020.

The project entered the construction phase in the second quarter of 2020 and was expected to be completed and put into use in the fourth quarter of 2021. However, the project has not been completed. — VNS