Houses were deeply submerged in flood water in Huong Khe District in Ha Tinh Province on October 15

A delegation from the ministry is arriving in the province today, October 17, to examine the plant's operation and work with its representatives and local official to investigate the incident.

According to local people, water discharged from hydropower dams during heavy rains on October 14 evening exacerbated the flooding that has submerged thousands of houses in the area.

During his visit to the area on October 15, Chairman of Ha Tinh Province, Dang Quoc Khanh, also confirmed that water released from hydropower dams on Friday night had caused water levels to rise quickly and no one was able to handle the situation.

“Ho Ho hydropower plant discharged between 500-1,800 cubic metres of water a second despite heavy rains but failed to inform the people about the discharge, so how could local people prepare for it?" Khanh told the plant.

A report from the provincial Irrigation Department said the Ho Ho hydropower plant discharged between 500-1,800 cubic metres of water a second on the evening of October 14 evening. More than 5,000 houses in Huong Khe District were submerged during the night, some by four metres.

The Central Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control reported that 15 people were killed and 9 others left missing in the flood in the four central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue by October 16.

Dozens of boats sank or went missing offshore in affected provinces.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has decided provided VND350 million (USD15,716) in initial aid to each of the four provinces.

Dtinews