Nui Coc Lake faces unexpected incident, Thai Nguyen announces “critical situation”

Thứ Ba, 20/06/2017, 15:57

PSNews-The Authorities of the Northern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen has declared a state of emergency amid high risks of a breakdown of the dam in Nui Coc Lake.

A working delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) visited and discussed with the People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen on solutions to leaks in the main dam and measures to protect safety for people living in the downstream area of Nui Coc Lake.

According to a report on the situation of the irrigation construction before the rain season by the Provincial Department of Agriculture, the main dam of Nui Coc lake appeared to suffer various problems, including minor leaks on the left bank, from the elevation of 45 m to 46 m. 

There are wider leaks at the 44 m elevation of the left bank. 

200m at the 32 m and 42 m altitudes of the downstream outlet ditches has collapsed, loosening the slabs.

On June 14, the People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen announced a state of emergency on the main dam of Nui Coc Lake and deployed forces to monitor and to be ready for emerging situations. 

The authorities of the province also worked out various measures for possible happenings and seek to fix the failure before August 20.

Nui Coc is an artificial reservoir, which was formed after the Cong River had been dammed between 1973 and 1982. 

The lake consists of a 480 m long main dam and seven additional dams. 

The lake is 25 km2 and 35m in depth, with a capacity of over 100 million m3. 

Its main functions  include supplying water for 12,000 ha of agricultural soil, controlling flood for the downstream area of the Cau river, serving local tourism and farming fish.

By Duy Tien