Authorities in Cam Tu Commune said on September 6 that a bottom discharge gate at Cam Thuy 1 Hydropower Plant became stuck at around midday on September 5.
The incident caused water levels in the reservoir to fall rapidly, leaving many fish cages partially drained and resulting in significant losses for local aquaculture farmers.
Residents' caged fish were damaged after the incident at the hydropower plant (Photo: Provided by residents).
According to commune officials, the plant operator moved quickly to address the problem after it was detected. By 1.30 pm the same day, the malfunction had been resolved and the discharge gate was closed.
Officials from the Cam Tu Commune People's Committee and the Thanh Hoa Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health subsequently conducted inspections and assessed the damage.
The department said more than three tonnes of fish raised in cages within the affected reservoir area died as a result of the sudden loss of water.
Cam Thuy 1 Hydropower Plant (Photo: Provided by residents).
Cam Thuy 1 Hydropower Plant was built using run-of-river hydropower technology and has a designed generating capacity of 28.8MW. The facility consists of two generating units and required a total investment of VND 1.3 trillion (USD 49.8 million).
Local authorities have not yet announced the estimated financial losses suffered by fish farmers or whether compensation measures will be considered.
