- Summary of Current Disaster Conditions
in Vietnam
1. Flood Damage Potential: HIGH IN THE MEKONG RIVER DELTA
2. Situation Analysis of Floods on Rivers in the North, the Centre and the South of Viet Nam:
(According to Bulletin No. 119 DB/TV, issued by the Hydro-meteorological Service of Vietnam in Hanoi on 12 October 2000).
On the Red River:
The flood water levels on the Red River Systems are receding. At 07:00, 12 October 2000, the flood water level on the Red River at the Hanoi gauging station was at 5.32 m (well below Alarm Level I).
Forecast:
By the morning of 14 October 2000, the flood water level of the Red River at the Hanoi gauging station will likely fall to 5.00 m (well below Alarm Level I).
On the Thai Binh River System:
The downstream flood water level on the Thai Binh River is receding. At 07:00, 12 October 2000, the flood water level on the Thai Binh River at the Pha Lai gauging station was at 2.19 m (well below Alarm Level I).
Forecast:
By the evening of 13 October 2000, the flood water level on the Thai Binh River at the Pha Lai gauging station will likely be at 2.00 m (1.50 m below Alarm Level I).
ON THE CENTRAL RIVER SYSTEMS:
The flood water levels on the rivers from Thua Thien Hue Province to Binh Thuan Province and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) are receding; the flood water levels on the rivers of Quang Tri and Quang Tri Provinces are increasing. The flood water levels on the rivers of northern area of Central Vietnam are fluctuating slowly.
At 7:00, 12 October 2000, the flood water level on the Ma River at the Giang Gauging Station was at 0.11 m (well below Alarm Level I); the flood water level on the Ca River at the Nam Dan Gauging Station was at 2.64 m (well below Alarm Level I); the flood water level on the Thach Han River at the Quang Tri Gauging Station was at 3.03 m (1.03 m above Alarm Level I); the flood water level on the Huong River at the Hue Gauging Station was at 2.04 m (0.04 m above Alarm Level II); the flood water level on the Tra Khuc River at the Tra Khuc Gauging Station was at 4.01 m (1.31 m above Alarm Level I); the flood water level on the Kon River at the Thach Hoa Gauging Station was 5.58 m (0.08 above Alarm Level I), the flood water level on the Da Rang River at the Phu Lam Gauging Station was at 2.17 m (0.47 m above Alarm Level I).
Forecast:
On 12 and 13 October 2000, flood water levels on the rivers from Nghe An to Binh Dinh Provinces and northern area of Central Highlands (Tay Nguyen) will increase again. In this flooding, the flood water levels on the rivers from Quang Binh to Binh Dinh Province will be above Alarm Level II or III. The flood water levels on the rivers from Nghe An to Ha Tinh Province will be at Alarm Level I or II.
ON THE SOUTHERN RIVER SYSTEMS:
The flood water levels on the Tien River, the Hau River, the Vam Co River, Dong Thap Muoi and Long Xuyen Quadrangle are receding slowly; the highest flood water levels in the day at the downstream areas of the Hau River, the Tien River, and the Vam Co River are increasing due to flood tides.
At 07:00, 12 October 2000, the flood water levels on the Tien River at the Tan Chau gauging station were at 4.37 m (0.17 m above Alarm Level III); the flood water level on the Hau River at the Chau Doc gauging station was at 4.28 m (0.78 m above Alarm Level III); the flood water level at the Hung Thanh gauging station was at 3.04 m; the flood water level at the Moc Hoa gauging station was at 2.75 m; the flood water level at the Kien Binh gauging station was at 2.36 m; the flood water level at the Xuan To gauging station was at 4.22 m; the flood water level at the Tri Ton gauging station was at 2.66 m; and the flood water level at the Long Xuyen Gauging Station was at 2.25 m.
Map of flooding situations in the Mekong River Delta
FORECAST:
Due to supplement of water in the upstream areas, rains in the Delta and impact from flood tides, The flood water levels on the Tien River, the Hau River, the Vam Co River, Dong Thap Muoi and Long Xuyen Quadrangle will continue to recede slowly and remain at high levels. On 16 October 2000, the flood water level on the Tien River at the Tan Chau gauging station will likely fall to 4.20 m (Alarm Level III) and the flood water level on the Hau River at the Chau Doc gauging station will to 4.10 m (0.60 m above Alarm Level III).
The downstream flood water levels in the Tien Giang, Long An, Can Tho, Vinh Long Provinces, Ho Chi Minh City and Ben Tre Province will change insignificantly and they will likely increase in mid-October due to flood tides.
3. Next information: The next information from the Standing Office of the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control is expected at 14:30 PM, 13 October 2000.
4. More in-depth information: Contact the DMU Website at: URL: http://www.undp.org.vn/dmu/index.html
5. Times: All times are given in Vietnamese Standard Time.
2. Distinction of river flood alarm levels:
Alarm Level I Possible flood condition - River water level is high; threat to low height embankments; flooding of very low lying areas; infrastructure safe.
Alarm Level II Dangerous flood condition - Flood plane inundation expected; towns and cities still generally protected by flood defences; high velocity River flows pose danger of bank and dyke erosion; bridge foundations at risk from scour; infrastructure generally safe.
Alarm Level III Very dangerous flood condition - All low lying areas submerged, including low lying areas in cities and towns; safety of River protection dykes in jeopardy; damage to infrastructure begins.
Alarm Level III + Emergency flood condition - General and wide spread uncontrollable flooding; dyke failure a certainty and probably uncontrollable; damage to infrastructure severe.