Heavy rains flood Hanoi's outskirts, forcing evacuations

By Gia Chinh   September 8, 2022 | 08:30 pm PT
Heavy rains flood Hanoi's outskirts, forcing evacuations
Water floods a road in Chuong My District on the night of September 8, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Chinh
Residents on the outskirts of Hanoi have been facing inundations as deep as 50 cm following heavy rains Thursday night.

"The water is rising. People must actively evacuate their belongings and cattle to safety," the local loudspeaker of Bui Xe Village in Xuan Mai Town of Chuong My District sounded at 8 p.m., as the rain was pouring down.

Groups of locals began to travel to the Xuan Mai middle school to borrow chairs to put objects in higher places. Dozens of motorbikes and cars had to be parked at the gates of the village as the water has already gotten inside the main route since 6 p.m. There were sections that were 50 cm deep underwater.

Hanoi’s Chuong My District is a low area, often affected by floods and the flow of the Bui River. When it rains, water level in the river would rise and inundate Chuong My, as well as parts of Quoc Oai and My Duc districts.

Residents said that at 5 p.m., the water from the river was still about 20 cm away from the road, before quickly invading the main road and encroaching into houses.

"This year the water was rising too quickly. When I managed to put my bed into a higher place, the water has already been reaching the TV on a 50 cm stand. If I try to save the TV by putting it a meter higher, there would not be enough time to save my closet," a resident said, saying water level would continue to rise and putting objects away would not be effective.

Floodwaters inundate an area of Chuong My District, Hanoi, September 8, 2022. Video by VnExpress/Gia Chinh

Water levels have got deeper and deeper towards the end of Bui Xa Village, with families putting away all their belongings to safe place. There are families living by the river who had to move around on boats.

Nguyen Manh Ha, chairman of Xuan Mai Town, said authorities have evacuated over 10 elderly people and children to safety.

"Militia members, volunteers and soldiers in the area are ready to response if heavy inundations occur," he said.

At around midnight, the water has already overflowed an embankment in Chuong My District. Authorities have called for people to be evacuated, while militia members and volunteers would reinforce dykes in vulnerable areas.

By 7 a.m. Friday, authorities of Nam Phuong Tien Village said the water has filled up paddy fields, forcing 150 families to be evacuated to higher places.

Northern Vietnam regions started to receive downpours since Thursday, with multiple locations recording rain levels above 100 mm, with certain areas going up to 230 mm, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

 
 
go to top