The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to provide Hanoi with some VND600 billion (US$24.4 million) for the upgrading of the Bui River dike.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan (second left) inspects the Yen Nghia water pumping station. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Under the terms of the package, Hanoi will upgrade the 46-kilometer dyke along the Bui River and rebuild the five sluice gates.

The ministry also plans to add VND350 billion ($14.2 million) to Hanoi's medium-term public investment capital to strengthen the Day River dike and rebuild 11 sluice gates.

The packages are aimed at strengthening Hanoi's ability to deal with the risks of severe flooding.

As of this morning (September 13), water levels in the Bui and Tich rivers ranged from 7.76 meters to 8.63 meters at various locations, above the level 3 flood warning mark.

According to the online newspaper Suc Khoe & Doi Song (Health & Life), the water levels of the two rivers were predicted to remain above the level 3 flood warning mark, threatening agriculture in Hanoi.

In Hoai Duc district, nearly 850 hectares of rice fields were destroyed, while the damage in My Duc district was more than 2,500 hectares. In Ba Vi district, which is the upper reaches of the Bui River, over 1,200 hectares of rice fields were submerged.

On September 12, a ministerial delegation led by Minister Le Minh Hoan inspected the dikes and flood prevention activities in Hanoi's Chuong My district, especially the Yen Nghia pumping station.

The pumping station was built in 2015 to irrigate about 6,000 hectares of farmland. It also helps the districts of Ha Dong, Hoai Duc, Dan Phuong, and Nam Tu Liem to avoid flooding during the rainy season.

Minister Hoan urged local authorities to protect the dikes, especially at key locations.

He also requested that dikes be inspected, potential breaches and damaged sluice gates identified, and these flaws addressed soon to ensure the safety of the dikes.

Minister Hoan also recommended that the Hanoi government take drastic measures to evacuate residents from riverfront areas and ensure their safety. He also suggested that communication needs to be improved to prevent casualties and loss of property.