Lai Chau Hydropower Plant discharged water at noon on August 19, 2020
In recent days, the upstream area of Lai Chau Hydropower Plant (Muong Te district, Lai Chau province) has unceasingly experienced heavy rains and rainstorms. According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, the water flow to Lai Chau hydropower reservoir was maximum 4,900 m3/s at 7 am on August 18, 2020 and remained at 4,500 – 4,800 m3/s on August 19, 2020,
To ensure that the reservoir water level does not exceed the normal operating level of 295 m, since the afternoon of August 18, 2020, Son La Hydropower Company has opened 5 surface spillway gates, with a total water discharge flow of about 1,615 m3/s to 5,271 m3/s. Along with that, 3 power units have been exploited at the maximum capacity with a flow of 1,573 m3/s.
Before the flood discharge, Son La Hydropower Company sent notifications to the Steering Committees for Disaster Prevention & Search and Rescue of the districts of Muong Cha, Tua Chua, Nam Po, Nam Nhun, Muong Te and Muong Lay Town, to local people and local authorities in downstream areas of Lai Chau Hydropower Plant in order to ensure safety for people and vehicles.
Speaking at the meeting on emergency preparedness for storm no. 4 on August 19, 2020, Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control - Mr. Tran Quang Hoai emphasized that storm would be very complicated in the coming days. Therefore, he recommends that the authorities of provinces, cities and ministries continue to seriously implement measures to cope with heavy rains and floods according to the Official Telegram No. 08/CD-TWPCTT dated August 17, 2020, which focuses on ensuring safety for people, preventing flash floods, landslides at highly exposed residential areas.