Fleeting Hanoi downpour uproots trees

Rain poured at around 1 p.m. on Nguyen Trai Street of Thanh Xuan District. Several broken tree branches impeded traffic on the road.

Photo by Pham Duy

A large African mahogany tree fell near a neighborhood on Nguyen Trai Street.

The tree fell into a common yard, destroying nearby walls.

Rubbles fell on top of the base of the uprooted tree.

Branches of the tree fell on the tent of construction workers, who were working at a playground.

Hoan Van Hon (in red hat), said the tree fell when there were two people resting inside the tent. A supporting beam collapsed and slightly injured one worker, he added.

A motorbike, along with other objects inside a house, became a mess.

The tree's canopies spanned all over the neighborhood's common yard.

Several other trees on Nguyen Trai Street were felled as well.

A tree near a store on Nguyen Trai Street was partially uprooted.

Between noon and 1 p.m., Hanoi's Thanh Xuan and Gia Lam districts saw severe downpours, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Network.

A billboard of a shop on Nguyen Trai Street was blown down by the wind, falling on top of parked motorbikes in the front.

Meteorological agencies said downtown Hanoi and nearby areas would record rain levels between 20-50 mm Thursday afternoon, and certain streets may be flooded up to 40 cm.