Authorities of Gia Lai Province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam announced on Wednesday that they are looking into all possible causes for the breaking of a hydroelectric dam’s wall which caused immense damage to the surrounding areas.

The la Glae 2 hydropower plant is a project under construction by Khai Hoang Hydropower JSC over la Glae stream in Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, with an investment capital of over VND423 billion (US$17.3 million).

Once construction is completed, this hydropower plant will boast a 12MW capacity and occupy 83.7 hectares spanning la Ve and la Ga Communes of Chu Prong District.

Heavy rain throughout Sunday night and early Monday resulted in a sudden flood in the hydropower plant’s vicinity.

Pieces of cement wall from a broken hydroelectric dam lie on a river in Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, October 11, 2023. Photo: Huynh Cong Dong / Tuoi Tre

The flash flood broke a three-meter-high and 50-meter-long wall of a dam spillway at the plant, according to Tu Ngoc Thong, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee of Chu Prong District.

The floodwaters then continued to make its way to the local agricultural crops.

Pham Van Binh, director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Gia Lai Province, stated that all local departments and organizations are looking into the cause of this incident.

The spillway of la Glae 2 hydropower plant had neither finished construction nor started water storage before the breakage, according to Binh.

Tree branches are swept away by floodwaters in Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, October 11, 2023. Photo: Huynh Cong Dong / Tuoi Tre

“We found out that two dams illegally built further upstream also broke during the flood,” Binh said.

He suspected that these dams were unauthorized constructions of coffee farmers from the nearby areas as a way to store water for dry seasons.

“Water from the heavy rain and flash flood must have swept downstream and busted these smaller dams,” Binh said.

“The combined force of the flood and pressure from breaking through these reservoirs was possible to break the spillway of la Glae 2 hydroelectric dam.”

Dang Van Dau stands in his farm, which was destroyed in a flash flood caused by a broken dam in Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, October 11, 2023. Photo: Huynh Cong Dong / Tuoi Tre

On the other hand, the department has been assigned by Nguyen Huu Que, deputy chairman of the People's Committee of Gia Lai Province, to review the construction qualifications of Khai Hoang Hydropower JSC and whether the construction process is ensured.

Authorities of Chu Prong District stated that the exact damage caused by the breakage is still being assessed.

Initial reports showed that 19 households la Ga and la Ve Communes were adversely affected and many hectares of valuable crops were destroyed.

Deputy chairman Que urges competent forces to help local people overcome the consequences of the incident.

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