HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

By Quynh Tran, Thanh Tung, Tuan Viet, Dinh Van   June 7, 2024 | 01:03 am PT
A heavy downpour that lasted for an hour around noon on Friday rendered several HCMC streets underwater, ruining vehicles and paralyzing traffic.
HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

At around 11:30 a.m., a downpour came down in several districts in HCMC, flooding several areas.

On La Xuan Oai Street of Thu Duc City, water levels went as high as the motorbike seat, making people fall off their vehicles.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

As water ruins engines, people try to push their vehicles through while they try to avoid big waves made by nearby cars and trucks.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

A deliveryman runs his motorbike on the sidewalk to avoid heavily inundated areas.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

At a drainage sewer on La Xuan Oai Street, environment workers weather the elements to clean up trash and keep the sewers clear.

"For many years, this road has had a 300 m section that is lower than the rest of the road, so whenever it rains, it floods," said Tuyen, an environment worker.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

"There is a large sewer on this road, so the trash often pools here. Every time it rains, I go there to get all the trash out; it's the only way to make the water recede quickly," said Thong Nhat, another environment worker.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

The hour-long downpour has also caused roads around Thu Duc market: Duong Van Cam, Ho Thi Tu and Dang Thi Ranh to be heavily flooded.

The area's concave terrain results in water flowing in from multiple directions, but the limited sewer system also means that it floods whenever it rains.

In the photo, several people wade their malfunctioning vehicles through the water to look for repair shops.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

Several people living along Duong Van Cam Street had to push the excess water out of their homes. Some houses even used barricades to block out the water, but eventually had to resort to pumps to get it out.

Tho, 58, said rainwater mixed with wastewater invaded his home, and the clean-up was difficult after the rain stopped.

"My area has been flooded over dozens of years. No matter how many methods I try to stop it, it doesn't work," he said.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

An asphalt road next to Thu Duc market was damaged after the rain.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

Water flooded a Nguyen Van Linh street section that intersects with Nguyen Luong Bang Street in District 7.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

Strong winds caused branches of a tree to break off and fall at a primary school in BinhThanh District. As it is summer vacation, the school was closed and there was no one inside.

HCMC's hour-long downpour floods streets, paralyzes traffic

A tree was felled by strong winds on Pham Van Dong Street.

HCMC is in its rainy season, which often comes with gusts and thunder.

Rain levels on Friday noon were between 40-150 mm in Thu Duc City, according to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center.

 
 
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