The most read Vietnamese newspaper
Edition: International | Vietnamese
© Copyright 1997 VnExpress.net. All rights reserved.
Pham Thi Tien, 60, of Di An City in Binh Duong Province, which borders Ho Chi Minh City, has on many occasions seen the Siep Stream near her home suddenly swell, causing walls to collapse and sweeping away belongings, and even her son on one occasion.
Tien's house is located on Suoi Siep Street next to the stream where on the night of Sept. 13 Nguyen Thi Bao Tran, 44, tragically lost her life.
Tran was swept away while driving her pickup truck in heavy rain, with the downpour causing the stream's water level to surge to over two meters.
 |
|
A pickup truck was washed away and gets stuck in Siep Stream, killing Nguyen Thi Bao Tran, on Sept. 13, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan |
Some 20 kilometers long, Siep Stream originates from small hills in Di An and flows into the Dong Nai River, the natural boundary between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province.
It serves as a major drainage channel for the urban areas of Di An and Bien Hoa City in Dong Nai.
Along it runs a road over five meters wide, marking the boundary between Binh Duong and Dong Nai. Around 200 families live along this road.
In recent years rapid urbanization in the two provinces, home to some of Vietnam’s major industrial hubs, has caused the stream to narrow.
This constriction has accelerated the water flow, leading to frequent flooding during heavy rains.
Flash flood from Siep Stream in Binh Duong Province sweeps away people's belongings and knocks down infrastructure. Video by local people
Since 2021 local authorities have been planning to clear the lands along the stream to build a proper drainage system, but due to the low compensation rates, many families have refused to move out.
As a result, the work has only stopped at building a two-meter-high brick walls on both sides, leaving the stream incapable of handling the water flow, leading to recurrent floods in the residential area.
Whenever there is heavy rain the stream rises rapidly, often resulting in flash floods.
Two years ago they knocked down a three-meter-high wall in Tien's house.
On other occasions the waters have swept away belongings.
Her 32-year-old son was once swept 50 meters downstream. He survived, but Tien remains haunted by the memories of the fierce floods.
"Sometimes the water rises to the windows, and waves crash into the house, leaving my family in constant fear," she says.
About 100 meters away Tran Van Lam, 58, built a one-meter-high brick wall across his doorway to prevent the stream's water from flooding his house.
On numerous occasions floodwaters have knocked down motorcyclists, and so Lam and his neighbors stand in the rain and warn people to avoid the dangerous area.
He has even stocked life jackets and ropes to be ready for rescue efforts.
 |
|
Tran Van Lam climbs over a brick wall across his doorway to prevent flooding. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Van |
Lam says the city's plan to widen the stream offered compensation of only a few million dong (VND1 million = US$40) per square meter, making it impossible for his family to relocate.
"After enduring the dangers of this stream for many years, I hope the authorities will resolve this issue to ensure the safety of residents."
Beyond the residential area, the overflowing waters frequently flood a 100-meter stretch of National Highway 1K, disrupting traffic.
Dao Minh Luan, chairman of Tan Dong Hiep Ward, says the residential area is in the downstream area of the stream, where it narrows like a bottleneck.
During heavy rains water from upstream flows into the constricted channel, flooding 300 meters of road from Suoi Siep Street to National Highway 1K, he says.
Vo Van Hong, chairman of Di An, stated that the city is striving to advance the implementation of the flood control project in this area.
In the near future, to reduce risks and mitigate flooding, authorities will be on-site to manage traffic and monitor frequently flooded areas, advising residents as they pass through.
