Located on the Lam Vien Plateau at the height of 1,500 metres above sea level, Dalat previously rarely flooded.

However, in recent years, Dalat has flooded whenever it heavily rains. On June 23, many parts of Dalat were heavily flooded following half an hour of heavy rain, felling trees and paralysing vehicles.

Expert Vo Kim Cuong, former deputy chief architect of HCM City, said unusual weather, with heavy downpours, was only one of the main reasons behind the serious flooding in Dalat.

Another important reason was rapid urbanisation, while the drainage system had yet to be upgraded, leading to massive flooding, he said.

The high density of greenhouses from central areas to the suburbs had further exacerbated the flooding issue, Cuong added.

“The soil in areas with greenhouses has zero ability to absorb water, which means that all of the rainwater will pour into the streams, and flooding is inevitable,” he added.

As of late last year, Dalat had 2,907 hectares of greenhouse. The city has set a target to reduce the greenhouse area to 2,372 hectares by 2025 and there will be no greenhouses in the central area by 2030.

Although Dalat authorities have striven to reduce greenhouse occupancy, this would be a long-term solution that requires more time and effort. What Dalat should do for now is improve the drainage system, dredge sewers and prevent people from littering to mitigate the impact of flooding.

Dalat was originally planned for about 20,000 people, but the local population is now more than 200,000.

Source: Dtinews