On the afternoon of June 4, Nhon Trach District in the southern province received rainfall for over two hours along with strong winds.
That evening, flash floods devastated a residential area in Hiep Phuoc Town, 45 km east of Ho Chi Minh City.
The floods destroyed a 500-meter-long street and caused many families to lose their homes and belongings.
A road in Hiep Phuoc Town of Dong Nai Province is damaged by flash floods on June 4, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan |
Tran Van Ha, Hiep Phuoc's chairman, said the town had steep terrain and every time rainy season came, the neighborhood next to the IP would flood. However, this was the first time flash floods had caused such destruction in the town.
Nguyen Phuoc Huy, director of Dong Nai's Meteorological Center, said a large amount of water had flowed down at once from an area that was too steep. He said Dong Nai received 100-120 mm of water in two hours of rain on June 4, which was normal in the area during the rainy season.
However, flash floods occurred after a 5 m tall and 30 m long wall at the IP collapsed, causing the water to run into the town.
The wall between Nhon Trach No.3 Industrial Park and a residential area in Dong Nai Province collapsed during heavy rains on June 4, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan |
Local authorities said the IP was on higher ground than the main residential area.
"Such a slope will cause water to flow quickly, which easily destroys houses and other items," Huy said.
A representative at the IP said the collapsed wall and the drainage system in the area nearby belonged to Hung Nghiep Formosa Co. Ltd., a Taiwanese firm.