Ho Chi Minh City Faces Widespread Flooding After Record Rainfall

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's southern economic hub, was hit by its most severe rainfall of the year on the evening of September 10th, causing widespread flooding across 33 major roads and two districts. According to reports from specialized agencies, the An Phu underpass experienced water depths of up to one meter in some sections. The rain began around noon on September 10th and intensified significantly between 5 PM and 8 PM. The Thao Dien station recorded over 153 mm of rainfall, the highest amount observed since the beginning of the year. Other stations, including Duong Van Cam, Thanh Da, and Duong Quang Ham, also registered substantial rainfall exceeding 120 mm. The heavy downpour resulted in flooding on 33 roads managed by the city's infrastructure units. The former Thu Duc City and former Binh Duong Province areas were particularly affected, with water levels reaching 40-45 cm on streets like To Ngoc Van and Nguyen Duy Trinh. In areas like Thao Dien and Thu Duc Market, streets such as Quoc Huong and Duong Van Cam saw about 30 cm of flooding, consistent with previous occurrences in these frequently inundated locations during heavy rains. The most critical situation was observed at the An Phu Development Urban Area and the An Phu underpass in Binh Trung Ward. In front of the Imperia An Phu apartment complex, water depth was around 40 cm, while the underpass was submerged to depths of 0.8 to 1 meter. This led to several cars stalling, forcing the closure of the underpass and diverting traffic to upper routes, causing severe congestion at the city's eastern gateway. Authorities mobilized specialized vehicles and pumps to clear the water and drainage systems. The underpass resumed normal operations by the afternoon of September 11th, marking the second time it has flooded since its opening in February. In other flooded areas, functional forces were deployed to remove debris, clear drains, and operate pumps, while also warning and restricting vehicles in deeper water sections. Following administrative boundary expansions, Ho Chi Minh City now has 159 regularly flooded points, comprising 76 in the old city area, 52 in the former Binh Duong area, and 31 in the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau area. At a press conference on September 10th, Mr. Trinh Quoc Dung, Deputy Head of the Technical Infrastructure Department at the Department of Construction, stated that the city aims to complete nine key projects by 2026 to definitively resolve flooding at three severely affected locations: Phan Van Hon Street, Binh Quoi, and the intersection of National Highway 51 and Huynh Thuc Khang. The Department of Construction has also advised the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to issue a drainage and anti-flooding plan for the period 2026-2030 to continue addressing the remaining flooded points. The risk of flooding is not over, as the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center forecasts widespread heavy rainfall in the Southern region until September 13th. In Ho Chi Minh City, total rainfall during this period is predicted to be between 80-140 mm, with a 70-80% probability of rain. Short bursts of intense rain may continue to cause flooding in low-lying urban areas and along rivers and canals. After September 13th, heavy rainfall is expected to decrease. From 7 AM on September 13th to 7 AM on September 14th, rainfall in the Southern region is forecast to be generally between 20-50 mm, with some areas exceeding 50 mm. The meteorological agency also warns of the potential for tornadoes, lightning, and strong gusts during thunderstorms.