Workers clean up trash along Hue pedestrian promenade

By Nguyen Dong October 15, 2020 | 12:50 am PT

As floodwaters began receding, a wood-paneled pedestrian promenade along iconic Perfume River in Hue was swamped in trash.

On Wednesday, the flood on the Huong River flowing through the ancient capital town Hue began receding. At the top of Phu Xuan Bridge, the receding water reveals tons of rubbish left along the wood-paneled bridge along the river. Sanitation workers put up a warning sign, preventing residents from entering the area so that they can speed up the clean up.Thua Thien-Hue, home to Hue, and others part of central Vietnam has been battered by torrential downpours since last week that triggered heavy flooding and wreaked havoc across the region, leaving at least 40 people dead and 12 others missing.

On Wednesday, floodwaters on Huong (Perfume) River, passing through ancient capital Hue, began receding. In its wake, tons of rubbish lay strewn along the wood-paneled walkway on the southern riverbank beside Phu Xuan Bridge.
Thua Thien-Hue Province and other parts of central Vietnam have been battered by torrential downpours since last week, triggering heavy flooding and wreaking havoc across the region, leaving at least 40 people dead and 12 others missing.

Workers clean up rubbish on the bridge surface. As Hue was hit by heavy flooding over the past days, the entire bridge was submerged in water.The 380-meter-long walkway on the southern banks of the river was opened to tourists in January 2019 after more than eight months of construction and it has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

The 380-meter-long walkway was opened to tourists in January 2019 after more than eight months of construction, becoming a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

Workers wade in the floodwaters to clean up trash. The walkway, costing an estimated VND52 billion ($2.2 million), is part of a project to improve city planning funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, which has granted $6 million for the purpose.

The walkway, costing an estimated VND52 billion ($2.2 million), is part of a project to improve city planning funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica), which had granted $6 million for the purpose.

At the beginning of a path leading to the pedestrian bridge, many iron-frame chairs have been installed to serve visitors. After the flood, these chairs are also covered by mud and trash.

Iron seating along the walkway are covered by mud and trash.

Garbage also piled up over a meter tall on the banks of the Huong River. This was the worst flooding over the past three years in Hue.

Garbage piled up over a meter high on the banks of Huong River during the worst flooding to hit Hue in the past three years.

Soldiers also joined sanitation wotkers in cleaning up trash along the area.

Soldiers join sanitation workers to clean up trash.

Locals flock to the Huong River to follow the garbage clean-up mission on the wooden bridge. An estimated tens of tons of trash need to be cleaned, a worker said.

An estimated tens of tons of trash need removing, a worker said.
As of Thursday, Thua Thien-Hue has reported eight deaths and thousands of homes submerged. Provincial authorities have asked for emergency supplies including food, medicine, and rescue gear.

People walk on the wooden-paneled bridge on the southern bank of the Huong River. Local authorities expected the pedestrian bridge would give a boost for Hues tourism industry.

People walk on the wooden-paneled path on the southern bank of Huong River in January 2019, the first month the pedestrian promenade was opened to the public.
Hue is home to Vietnam's last royal family, the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), and possesses many UNESCO-recognized heritage sites.