Due to heavy rainfall combined with water rushing downstream from the Thuong River, multiple segments of the auxiliary embankment system in Tien Luc commune (Bac Ninh province) were overwhelmed, leading to severe flooding across numerous areas.
In the early hours of October 8, several local residents shared footage on social media showing sections of the dikes in Tien Luc being breached or overtopped, with floodwaters inundating homes.
Van Tien, a resident of Tien Luc, said floodwaters began to rise on the night of October 7 following intense rainfall. While homes began flooding that evening, the rice fields had already been submerged for days, causing extensive damage to crops.
A breached segment of the embankment in Tien Luc, Bac Ninh causes widespread flooding. Photo: Van Tien
Tran Xuan Cuong, Secretary of the Tien Luc Party Committee, explained that heavy rainfall combined with surging water from the Thuong River caused certain outer embankments to overflow into farmland. He clarified that these are auxiliary dikes meant to support the main system. Although designed to help regulate water, their overflow still poses a significant threat to local livelihoods.
As early as the evening of October 7, the commune and emergency forces began evacuating residents, livestock, and valuable possessions to safety.
“Given the danger, authorities acted preemptively instead of waiting for water levels to rise. By the morning of October 8, we continued to relocate remaining individuals and property to ensure maximum safety,” Cuong stated.
Despite swift action, the floodwaters rose quickly. By 7:00 a.m., the entire commune was submerged.
“All 61 villages in the commune are now flooded, with Tram hamlet being the hardest hit, where 31 households are affected,” Cuong confirmed. “We’re working with the military and police to relocate these residents to safer locations.”
Officials refute dike collapse rumors
A home in Tien Luc submerged in floodwater. Photo: Van Tien
Addressing social media rumors of a dike collapse in Ngoai hamlet, Tien Luc commune, Pham Duc Luan, Director of the Department of Dike Management and Natural Disaster Prevention (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), clarified the situation.
According to Luan, rapid flooding from upstream in Lang Son led to overflow along certain sections of the Thuong River’s right-bank dike. Authorities are currently reinforcing these points.
“The information about a dike collapse is inaccurate,” he asserted.
“These outer embankments are designed to protect specific zones outside the main dike system. They are significantly lower and are only meant to hold back floodwaters up to level-2 warning levels. Beyond that, overflow is expected or intentionally allowed by local authorities for flood control,” Luan explained.
Local authorities in Hop Thinh inspect water levels on the Cau River.
Elsewhere in Bac Ninh, the Cau River’s rising water forced emergency evacuations in Hop Thinh commune. Residents of villages such as Xuan Giang, Dong Dao, Da Hoi, and Ninh Tao were moved to safety overnight.
Authorities prioritized evacuating the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities, instructing families to bring only essential belongings.
Livestock and property were also relocated to higher ground. Several schools were converted into temporary shelters, while others found refuge with relatives.
At around 9:30 p.m. on October 7, the Bac Ninh Provincial Civil Defense Command issued a Level-3 flood alert for the Cau River, warning of rapidly rising water and potential breaches along dike lines.
To reduce pressure on the embankments, Hop Thinh authorities decided to open floodgates, allowing the Cau River to flow over certain sections of the outer dikes. This helped balance water levels and prevent breaches in the main system but left several villages temporarily surrounded by water.
Nguyen Van Khanh, Secretary of the Hop Thinh Party Committee, said that local emergency forces are on 24-hour duty and ensuring food, water, and other essentials for flood-affected residents.
According to Khanh, roughly 5,000 residents have been temporarily evacuated. Hop Thinh commune is home to more than 72,000 people.
Vietnamnet.vn
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