Large volumes of floating rubbish and decayed timber have covered the surface of Hua Na Reservoir in Nghe An Province.
After prolonged flooding driven by recent storms, large quantities of waste, trees and rotten timber have been swept into the Hua Na Hydropower Reservoir in Thong Thu Commune, Nghe An, obstructing waterway traffic and posing serious environmental risks.
The situation emerged in late October and early November, with major sections of the reservoir blanketed by floating debris. The thick layer of rubbish has made boat travel difficult, forcing fish-farming households to suspend operations.
The Thong Thu Commune authorities have issued an urgent request to Hua Na Hydropower JSC and local authorities to clear and treat the waste.
Nguyen Thi Hoai, Chair of Thong Thu Commune, said: “After the storms, the amount of drifting waste is huge, turning many river stretches into floating dumps. If it is not handled soon, it will harm water quality and public health. We have asked the hydropower company to cooperate in thorough collection and treatment.”
According to Hoai, this is the second year in a row that Thong Thu has recorded large-scale floating waste at Hua Na reservoir after storms and floods.
Some residents have taken boats onto the reservoir to collect large logs drifting on the water to use as firewood.
Hua Na is one of the largest hydropower facilities in western Nghe An, spanning Thong Thu and Dong Van communes. The reservoir holds more than 450 million cubic metres of water, supplying electricity and irrigation to downstream areas. However, each flood season sees large volumes of upstream waste pushed into the lake, placing considerable pressure on environmental management.
Nguyen Trong Thach, Deputy Director of Hua Na Hydropower JSC, said the company is working with authorities to address the issue.
