A view of the damage from flooding caused by a reservoir collapse in Tuy Phong Commune, Lâm Đồng Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

LÂM ĐỒNG — Authorities in Lâm Đồng Province have ordered Trang Trại Việt Trading Co., Ltd. to suspend all water storage operations and take urgent safety measures after the collapse of a company reservoir in Tuy Phong Commune on Saturday night killed a 13-year-old girl and damaged local farms and homes.

On Tuesday, Phạm Thành Bắc, chairman of the Tuy Phong Commune People’s Committee, issued an emergency directive instructing the company to immediately stop storing water in its ponds and reservoirs, lower water levels to safe limits and ensure no further risk of collapse.

The company was also told to review all existing reservoirs, report the number, capacity and safety measures of each, and submit full documentation of the project to local authorities by Wednesday. Trang Trại Việt must also assist recovery efforts and compensate 20 affected households for losses in crops, livestock and property before that date.

An initial inspection found that two reservoirs owned by the company had burst, releasing large volumes of water downstream. One reservoir covered about 18ha with a 48m-long breach, while another, roughly 4ha, had a 37m collapse. The floodwaters destroyed crops, livestock pens and homes across more than 100ha of farmland, affecting around 160 households.

Provincial officials say the company’s investment licence, issued in 2017, did not include permission to build water reservoirs, despite the project now containing over 20ha of water surface and a total capacity of around 900,000cu.m.

Nguyễn Hà Lộc, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, confirmed that no approval for water storage was included in the original or revised project documents.

Provincial Chairman Hồ Văn Mười has directed relevant agencies to inspect all reservoirs in the area, verify whether Trang Trại Việt’s structures were built illegally and identify the cause and accountability behind the incident.

The disaster struck last Saturday, following heavy rainfall that caused one of the company’s mountain reservoirs on Tân Lai hill to rupture. The sudden flood swept through Village 2 of Tuy Phong Commune, washing away homes and livestock.

Four residents were swept away by floodwaters. Three were rescued, but one, 13-year-old Lê Nguyễn Bích Thảo, tragically lost her life.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident and assess total damages while working to support affected families and ensure similar tragedies are prevented. — VNS