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Natech Accident Final
DISCLAIMER: The Joint Research Centre does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the data in eNatech. It also reserves the right to cancel or change records without prior notification.
Type
Natech Accident
Date
2015/07/29
Natural Hazard
Cua Ong Ward heavy rain and flood, Viet Nam, 2015
Site
Quang Ninh coal mine, Viet Nam
Status
Final

Units Involved

  1. Name
    Tailings dam 790
    Type
    Storage: Unknown

Event Sequences

  1. Name
    Toxic sludge avalanche
    Unit
    1. Tailings dam 790
    Description
    Toxic sludge that spilled out of tailings dam have seriously contaminated farmland, rivers and coastal areas
    Substances Involved
    1. Name
      Sludge: coal mining waste products
      Description
      Coal mining waste can contain a wide array of materials dangerous to
      human health and the environment including: arsenic, boron, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, selenium and thallium.
    Initiating EventCritical EventMajor Event
    Component (Structural): Partial collapse
    As a consequence of torrential rain and basin flooding, a 3 meter long section of dam 790 broke
    Release: Liquid release to flood water
    Sludge and floodwaters spilled from the breach
    Dispersion: Substance in / on water
    Coal wastes contaminated rivers and eventually reached the sea
    Drinable kwater, vegetation, shores and sealife were contaminated
    Dispersion: Substance in / on ground
    The black mud spread to the countryside and buried a portion of the near city.
    People, soil, fields, vegetation and wildlife were contaminated

Weather Conditions

Precipitation
Rain

Emergency Response

Difficulties in Response to the Natural Hazard
Insufficient personnel and equipment to respond to both emergencies: Yes
Natech event prevents access of personnel to natural hazard affected area: No
Natech event prevents efficient operation of personnel in the natural hazard affected area: Yes
Response to the Natural Hazard
The Vietnam People’s Army has deployed about 31,000 soldiers and 860 vehicles to help authorities and residents in northern provinces to deal with the flooding
Difficulties in Response to the Natech Event
Damage to lifelines (e.g. water, power, communication, transportation): Yes
Response Teams and Equipment Involved
  • Local hazmat team
  • Regional / national hazmat teams
Sheltering and Evacuation due to the Natech event
Off-site evacuation

Consequences

Environmental Zones Impacted
  • Inland (e.g. grassland, cropland, forest)
  • Freshwater (e.g. pond, lake, stream)
  • Shore (e.g. beach, dune, marsh land)
  • Off-shore (e.g. estuary, sea)
Economic Impacts
There were large delays of coal supplies to national power plants due to the interruption of lifelines.
Built-up Areas Impacted
  • Residential areas (e.g. housings, hotels)
  • Commercial areas (e.g. offices, shops)
  • Public areas (e.g. schools, hospitals)
  • Utilities (e.g. gas, water, electricity, telecommunication)
  • Infrastructure (e.g. roads, railways, air transport)
Community Disruption
Hundreds of households have been severely damaged and/or submerged by the sludge avalanche.

Remedial Activities

Restoration Activities
The mining companies in the area took one to three months to restart operations. It took weeks to restore lifeline connections.

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned on Equipment
Coal waste facilities are ticking time bombs if they are not properly constructed to withstand large rainfall events
Lessons Learned on Organisational Aspects
As the unfolding disaster in Quang Ninh shows all too clearly, there have not been sufficient efforts to protect surrounding communities or Ha Long Bay from a deluge of coal waste.

Climate change is only going to make extreme weather events such as this more common. The government plans to push investments on mining sector have been revised, in the light of the dangers to human health and safety that arise as a result of coal waste problems
ID: 64, Created: Amos NECCI, 2016-09-21 13:46:44 – Last Updated: Amos NECCI, 2021-01-05 13:54:33

Attachments

NoDescriptionFile Size
1.IRIN 1.34MB
2.The NYT 102.70KB
3.Tuoitrenews-31000 soliders 520.83KB
4.VietNamNews 246.15KB
5.Waterkeeper 167.30KB
Last update: 2024/04/17 | Top