On the afternoon of October 7th, the Bac Khe 1 Hydropower Dam (located in Kim Dong commune, former Trang Dinh district) suffered a breach approximately 10 meters wide, causing water to surge into the management area and downstream regions.
The breach occurred at 2 PM near the spillway, starting as a small rupture before widening. Water from the dam flooded downstream, causing a rapid rise in the river level and posing a threat to nearby residential areas along the riverbanks.
A joint task force from the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade is en route to Lang Son to inspect and oversee emergency response efforts.
Mr. Pham Tuan Anh, Director of the Industrial Safety and Environmental Technology Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), stated that no casualties have been reported thus far. However, some machinery and equipment have been damaged.
The aftermath of Typhoon Matmo brought heavy rainfall to Lang Son. From 7 PM on October 5th to 7 PM on October 6th, Mau Son recorded 205 mm of rainfall, and from 7 PM on October 6th to 7 AM on October 7th, Quyet Thang recorded 195 mm. The influx of water into the reservoir increased water levels, putting immense pressure on the dam.
The Bac Khe 1 Hydropower Plant is situated in Tan Tien commune, Lang Son province, on the Bac Khe River (a tributary of the Ky Cung River). It has a capacity of approximately 2.4 MW and a reservoir volume of around 4 million cubic meters. The project was developed by Bac Khe 1 Hydropower Joint Stock Company.
Bac Khe 1 Hydropower Joint Stock Company was established and commenced operations on June 8, 2012. Its current legal representative is Mr. Ngo The Quang (born in 1962).
The company’s primary business is electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. Its chartered capital was increased from 54.4 billion VND to 85 billion VND in December 2018.
Bac Khe 1 Hydropower is a small-scale private hydropower company operating in Lang Son province.
In 2013, an article in Nhan Dan newspaper reported that the Bac Khe I Hydropower Project, with a total investment of over 35 billion VND and an initial capacity of 1.6 MW, was one of several unfinished hydropower projects in Lang Son province.
Due to inadequate surveys and rising water levels, when the investor began river diversion, the water level surged, affecting 124 households. Over half of these households received no compensation, causing public outrage and forcing the project to halt.
The project was later completed.
In June 2024, the Lang Son Provincial Department of Industry and Trade’s website announced that it had conducted an on-site inspection of disaster prevention measures at the Bac Khe 1 Hydropower Plant.
Following the inspection, the task force concluded that Bac Khe 1 Hydropower Joint Stock Company has generally complied with regulations on dam and reservoir safety management, as outlined in Decree 114/2018/NĐ-CP dated September 4, 2018, and Circular 09/2019/TT-BCT dated July 8, 2019.
Upon completing the inspection, the Lang Son Department of Industry and Trade issued an official dispatch requesting the company to urgently comply with the task force’s conclusions, specifically:
– Continue adhering to regulations on dam and reservoir safety management as per Decree 114/2018/NĐ-CP and Circular 09/2019/TT-BCT; enhance awareness in developing and complying with approved plans.
– Annually update the dam and reservoir database and submit it to the Department of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies as required.
– Prepare annual safety status reports for dams and reservoirs; review and approve disaster response plans; submit emergency response plans for district-level approval; and conduct regular safety inspections as mandated.
– Monitor activities within the dam and reservoir protection zones, report unauthorized activities to local authorities and the Department of Industry and Trade for appropriate action.
– Collaborate with local authorities, commune-level agencies, and the District Disaster Prevention and Rescue Command Committee on regular communication, including awareness campaigns for downstream communities. Establish coordination protocols with relevant units for disaster prevention; organize drills for approved plans; ensure adequate equipment and supplies for disaster response; and conduct disaster prevention drills at the plant in coordination with local authorities.
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