HÀ NỘI — The Central Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention has ordered hydropower companies to discharge water to decrease the water level.

The committee requested Sơn La and Tuyên Quang hydropower companies to begin discharging water through the spillway at 7am today.

The Hòa Bình hydropower company will, at the same time, also discharge water for the second time, after earlier discharging water in July.

Heavy rains and flooding can lead to complicated situations. Depending on the actual circumstances, the companies may continue to open more sluice gates to discharge water in the aftermath of the heavy rainfall that has continued for some days.

The central steering committee also informed the steering committee for disaster prevention and search and rescue of provinces and cities, including Hà Nội, Tuyên Quang, Sơn La and Hòa Bình, as well as Phú Thọ, Vĩnh Phúc, Hưng Yên and Hà Nam, along with Nam Định, Thái Bình, Bắc Ninh, Hải Dương and Hải Phòng, about the discharge of water.

In addition, relevant agencies such as the Central Hydrometeorological Forecast Centre, Việt Nam Television, Voice of Việt Nam and news agencies were informed about the discharge to ensure safety in downstream areas.

The steering committee of provinces and cities also notified authorities, people and organisations operating along rivers and river banks, aquaculture establishments, water transport and sand exploitation companies to take preventive action to ensure safety of people and property.

Communication agencies were required to update the situaion of hydropower reservoirs at wards and communes.

At the same time, these agencies would coordinate with specialised agencies to instruct people, relevant agencies and organsations on flood prevention measures to minimise damage caused by the discharge of water. — VNS