Rapid response as Ba and Kon rivers hit record flood levels

Currently, heavy rain and flooding in Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Khanh Hoa provinces are continuing to develop in a very complex manner. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, floods on the Kon River are still rising and remain above alarm level 3. Floods on the Ba River at the Phu Lam station continue to increase and have surpassed alarm level 3, reaching the same level as the historic 1993 flood.

In response to this situation, on November 19, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung signed the Prime Minister’s Urgent Dispatch No. 222/CĐ-TTg regarding focused measures to respond to exceptionally large floods on the Ba River (Dak Lak) and emergency floods on the Kon River (Gia Lai). The dispatch was sent to the Secretaries and Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Khanh Hoa provinces, as well as the Ministers of Defense, Public Security, Agriculture and Environment, Finance, Construction, Industry and Trade, Education and Training, and Health.

To proactively prevent and respond in a timely manner to ensure the safety of people and minimize property damage, the Prime Minister requested that provincial leaders and relevant ministries and agencies implement decisively and effectively the directives outlined in Dispatches 217/CĐ-TTg, 218/CĐ-TTg, and 219/CĐ-TTg. Among these, several urgent tasks must be carried out immediately.

The military, police, and other forces must be fully mobilized, using all available means and measures to access residential areas affected by deep flooding, isolation, and landslides in order to relocate and evacuate residents to safe locations promptly. In evacuation areas, sufficient food, drinking water, and essential supplies must be ensured, and under no circumstances should residents suffer from hunger, cold, or lack of clean water.

Local authorities are required to proactively operate hydropower and irrigation reservoirs safely, optimizing flood reduction for downstream areas while ensuring the absolute safety of reservoir and dam structures. Relevant forces should strengthen traffic control, guidance, and remote coordination to manage traffic flow and strictly prevent residents and vehicles from entering areas of deep flooding or landslides.

Monitoring of flash floods must be conducted rigorously; information must be communicated promptly to all levels of government and the public to enable the highest level of preparedness and response.

The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance are tasked with promptly providing equipment and resources, upon request by local authorities, to support disaster response and recovery. Other ministries and agencies, within their respective functions and authority, are to proactively coordinate with localities to direct and implement flood response measures, minimizing damage as much as possible.

Viet Nam Television, the Voice of Viet Nam, and the Viet Nam News Agency are requested to increase coverage and provide timely updates on the natural disaster situation and the directives issued by relevant authorities.

The Government Office is responsible for monitoring and urging ministries, agencies, and local authorities to strictly implement the Urgent Dispatch, while promptly reporting to the Prime Minister and the responsible Deputy Prime Minister on arising or unexpected issues.

The flood on the Ba River (Dak Lak) has peaked and is now receding. At Cung Son station, the flood peaked at 40.99 m, 6.49 m above alarm level 3, and 1.09 m above the historical flood level of 1993. At Phu Lam station, the flood peaked at 3 a.m. today at 5.40 m, 1.70 m above alarm level 3, and 0.19 m above the historical flood of 1993. It is forecasted that in the next 6 hours, the Ba River flood will remain high, above alarm level 3, equivalent to the historical 1993 flood level, before gradually receding.

The flood on the Cai River in Nha Trang has also peaked and is receding. At Dong Trang station, the flood peaked at 5 a.m. at 13.14 m, 2.14 m above alarm level 3, but 0.20 m below the historical flood of 2003.

Floods on the Dinh River in Ninh Hoa, the Cái River in Phan Rang (Khanh Hoa), and the Krong Ana River (Dak Lak) are rising. Floods on the Huong River, Bo River (Hue), Kon River (Gia Lai), and other rivers from Da Nang to Khanh Hoa are receding.