The Dak Kar hydropower dam is facing collapsing risk in Dak Nong Province
Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Bon, told local media on Friday morning that they have evacuated thousands of people who may be affected if the dam collapses.
"The dam will be at risk if rains continue," the official said.
In the neighbouring province of Binh Phuoc, Le Ba Dung from Bu Dang District's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that over 5,000 people have been moved to safe areas after being warned of the dam situation.
According to head of the Dak Nong Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, Le Viet Thuan, the Dak Kar hydropower reservoir has total capacity of 13 million cubic metres and is having problem with its discharging valve.
"We are still trying to fix the valve," Thuan said on Friday afternoon. "We may have to use mines to discharge water if the situation worsens."
Heavy downpours in recent days have caused landslides at the bottom of the dam at the Dak Kar hydropower, creating a high risk of a dam collapse.
On the evening of August 8, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control wrote to the governments of Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc and Lam Dong provinces and other agencies, warning them of the dam collapsing risk, and asking for urgent measures to protect human lives and properties while seeking ways to lower the water level.
In related news, hundreds of households in Bao Loc City of Lam Dong Province have been inundated. The local government has mobilised military and police forces to evacuate residents from dangerous locations.
People travel buy boat on a road in Lam Dong Province on August 9
Roads have been submerged under water that is over a metre.
Many streets in Da Lat City are deeply submerged on August 8
On August 8, a police officer was reportedly killed in a flood while on duty.
Besides Bao Loc City, the water levels at the Dong Nai and Da Quay rivers have risen sharply, flooding the Da Teh, Cat Tien and Da Huoai districts. As many as 75 households in Da Teh District have been evacuated to safe places.
Early today, August 9, a severe landslide was seen on the Bao Loc Mountain Pass in Bao Loc City and Da Huoai District. The landslide has caused serious traffic congestion at the site.
A seven-seat passenger car fell off a mountain pass due to landslide in Bao Loc on August 9.
According to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, a 50-seat coach and a seven-seat passenger car fell off while travelling through the mountain pass at the time of the landslide.
Agencies in Bao Loc and Da Huoai are striving to clear the road as soon as possible.
