Hanoi braces for more heavy rains as residents scramble with rising floods

Hanoi is grappling with one of the most severe flooding events in recent memory, as the Red River swells to levels not seen since 2008, forcing widespread evacuations, transportation bans, and traffic chaos across the city.

The Red River’s water level on Tuesday surged to 9.5 meters under the historic Long Bien Bridge, surpassing the critical threshold that prompted immediate action from authorities. This is the highest the river has risen in 16 years.

Rising waters in the Red River under the Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi, Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Starting at 3 p.m., all types of vehicles and even pedestrians were banned from crossing the 122-year-old bridge, a crucial connection between central Hanoi and its outlying districts.

Earlier in the day, train services across the bridge were halted.

Chuong Duong Bridge, another vital artery in the city, has also seen restrictions, with large vehicles prohibited from crossing. This has led to severe traffic congestion, as police struggled to manage the flow of cars and motorcycles, many of which became stranded in floodwaters.

The floodwaters have forced authorities in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem District to take drastic measures. As the Red River began flooding residential areas on Tuesday morning, approximately 460 people were ordered to evacuate, with public facilities prepared to accommodate additional displaced residents.

Heavy rainfall has battered the city since Monday night. According to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, Hanoi is expected to receive between 80-150 mm of rain from Sept. 10 to 12, with some areas possibly exceeding 250 mm. The intense downpours resulted in severe flooding on numerous streets in districts like Ha Dong, Thanh Xuan, and Hoan Kiem.

Additional rains are expected from convective clouds moving from Bac Ninh and Hung Yen provinces towards Hanoi. The incoming showers and thunderstorms are likely to exacerbate the flooding, with risks of tornadoes, lightning, and strong gusts of wind adding to the city’s woes.

As waters continue to rise, several key districts along the Red River—Dan Phuong, Bac Tu Liem, Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung, and others—are at risk of significant flooding.