China releases flood water at a very small rate, only 250m3/s, so it does not affect downstream Vietnam.

Speaking to the press, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep confirmed that China had announced that it would release floodwater from the hydropower plant upstream of the Lo River.

"Your side also sent us a written notice early to prepare plans. The discharge flow is also small, only 250 m3/s, so it does not cause too much impact or influence on floods downstream in Vietnam," said Mr. Hiep.

The leader of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also informed that the average discharge flow of a sluice gate of Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant is 1,800m3/s, so it can be seen that the discharge level from the Chinese hydropower plant this time is very low, so the impact on downstream floods is not too great.

Water level on Lo River in Ha Giang rises rapidly. Photo: Ha Giang Newspaper.

Previously, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the face of serious natural disasters and floods occurring in some northern provinces and cities, implementing the direction of the Government leaders, on September 9, 2024, the leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed with the Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to request China to closely coordinate in flood prevention and overcoming the consequences caused by Typhoon Yagi.

At the same time, representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in China and representatives of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming urgently worked with representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Yunnan Province (China) to request support measures to minimize the risk of flooding in the Red River basin.

Vietnamese representative agencies in China have also sent diplomatic notes requesting China to strictly control the amount of water flowing from the upper reaches of the Red River to the lower reaches, coordinate with competent authorities to reduce or close the discharge gates at upstream hydroelectric dams, and promptly notify specific information on the time, duration, and volume of flood discharge.

According to updated information from Vietnamese representative agencies in China, on the morning of September 10, 2024, the Chinese side said that for the time being, the two hydropower plants in the upper reaches of the Red River will not start releasing floodwaters, nor will there be any plans to release floodwaters; the hydropower plants will stop operating to prevent floods and store water. In order to effectively coordinate with the Vietnamese side, the Chinese side is coordinating activities with relevant ministries and branches.

Implementing the direction of the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the coming time, Vietnamese representative agencies in China will continue to work closely with local authorities to promptly and regularly update information on the flood situation in localities in China that affect localities in Vietnam; coordinate and exchange regularly with local authorities to promote measures to minimize the amount of upstream water from China flowing to downstream localities in Vietnam, thereby minimizing damage caused by floods in the river basins in the Northern region.

In Ha Giang, implementing Official Dispatch No. 90/CD-TTg dated September 9, 2024 of the Prime Minister on providing food, foodstuffs, and necessities to serve the lives of people affected by storm No. 3, on September 10, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Giang province also issued Official Dispatch No. 2986/UBND-VHXH directing heads of departments, branches, sectors, and provincial-level organizations and Chairmen of People's Committees of districts and cities to continue to strengthen direction and coordination to effectively respond to emergency situations with heavy rain in the province.

Source: https://danviet.vn/thu-truong-bo-nnptnt-trung-quoc-xa-lu-voi-muc-rat-nho-chi-250m3-s-nen-khong-tac-dong-den-ha-du-viet-nam-20240911151511758.htm