Residents along Saigon River warned of localized flooding over reservoir discharge, heavy rain

Southern Irrigation Management Company, the operator of Dau Tieng Reservoir which spans Tay Ninh Province, Dong Nai Province, and Ho Chi Minh City, began releasing water at 7:00 am on Tuesday to prepare for expected heavy rain and rising river levels caused by an approaching tropical depression.

The company, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, reported that water levels at 7:00 am on Monday stood at 23.9m, about 0.5m below the pre-flood maximum level of 24.4m.

To proactively manage inflows and prevent downstream flooding, the company decided to adjust both the timing and discharge volume for the reservoir’s eighth controlled release of 2025.

The discharge will run from 7:00 am on Tuesday through 7:00 am on December 2, with flow rates ranging between 36m³/s and 200m³/s.

Operators will modify the amount released depending on rainfall patterns across the watershed, tidal conditions along the Saigon River, and the volume of water entering the reservoir.

After December 2, the reservoir will maintain a minimum downstream discharge of 36m³/s, in line with the inter-reservoir operation plan.

The company has notified local authorities, relevant agencies, and communities along the Saigon River so they can take preventive measures and adjust farming and production schedules.

Although tides on the Saigon River are gradually receding, they remain above the warning level 1 at 1.4m.

At the Thu Dau Mot monitoring station, water levels continue to exceed the level-3 warning threshold at 1.6m.

This weekend, southern Vietnam is expected to experience scattered showers and thunderstorms, with some areas likely receiving heavy rain.

Forecasters warned that thunderstorms may produce lightning, hail, and strong gusts.

Residents in low-lying areas along the Saigon River are urged to remain cautious, as heavy rainfall combined with high tides and the reservoir’s release could cause localized flooding.