In particular, rising water levels in the Bui River have overtopped the Bui 2 dike. This is a makeshift barrier not yet classified as a standard dike, and it can only withstand water levels up to Level III warning on the Bui River at Yen Duyet.

At around 9:15 p.m. on August 27 in Van Loi Hamlet, Phuc Tho Commune, near Thach That Commune, a section of protective dike approximately 3 meters long was breached by water. The local People's Committee mobilized rapid-response forces to address the situation immediately.

In Dan Phuong Commune, a 7-meter-long landslide occurred on the upstream slope of the Tien Tan dike, between markers K6+320 and K6+327. The surface subsided by an average of 25 centimeters, and visible cracks ranging from 3 to 5 centimeters wide appeared along the slide.

In Son Tay Ward, cracks appeared on the upstream slope of the Huu Hong dike from K27+390 to K27+400. The crack stretched 10 meters, with the widest point reaching 0.3 meters and a depth of 0.5 meters. A 25-meter landslide also occurred nearby between K29+555 and K29+580, with a vertical drop of 0.8 meters.

Additionally, authorities recorded structural issues in several irrigation facilities. At Tien Sa Reservoir (Suoi Hai Commune), about 60 meters of the embankment eroded, threatening the safety of nine downstream households. Emergency relocation plans are being considered.

Other minor canal banks and irrigation structures also suffered landslides. Some equipment sustained damage during operation.

As of the morning of August 28, the Department reported that 88 households had to be evacuated due to flooding and landslides. A total of 1,643 households were impacted. One school and one cultural center were flooded. Seventy trees were uprooted. An estimated 7,085 hectares of rice and vegetables were inundated.

To proactively respond to such disasters, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has urged all relevant agencies to implement the “four-on-the-spot” disaster response strategy. This includes timely preparation, damage mitigation, and implementation of disaster response plans as per each locality’s designated responsibilities.

Local authorities have been asked to closely monitor weather developments and river water levels, ensure safety at ongoing construction sites, and supervise all sand and gravel mining or transport operations to prepare appropriate countermeasures.

The Department also recommended that communes and wards increase inspections and patrols along dikes and reservoirs to promptly detect and resolve issues during the early stages of any incident.

PV