Thunderstorms knock down trees, send Saigon traffic into chaos

Workers cut off branches as a tree fell during strong wind bursts on Hoang Sa Street in Phu Nhuan District, to the city's northeast, on Thursday afternoon. The car was badly crushed but the driver survived.

Traffic police stand guard as an uprooted mahogany tree lies across Truong Chinh and Che Lan Vien T-junction in Tan Binh District, 20 minutes to the west of Tan Son Nhat airport.

Two motorbikes are seen knocked down and at least three passengers were injured. Thanh Long, a vendor on the street, said the mahogany tree was knocked down after around 10 minutes of strong wind. The tree was around 20 years old, he said.

Saigon has entered its monsoon season and tornadoes and thunderstorms are forecast to be common. But falling trees is also a usual threat to travelers, as transport officials blamed rapid urban development, with houses suffocating the trees and underground projects taking up their soil and water, for weakening them.

Another tree on Rach Bung Binh Street, District 3, 10 minutes to the northwest of the city's center, has collapsed an electric pole and sent a traveler to hospital.

Police put up a makeshift fence on Tran Binh Trong Street, District 5, 15 minutes southwest of the city's center, to keep travelers from a leaning tree.

Travelers have to turn around to avoid the mess at Truong Chinh – Che Lan Vien T-junction. Traffic after hours turn even more chaotic.