Flooding blocks City roads, enters homes - Miscellany

Updated

October, 02 2012 10:29:59

Flooding blocks City roads, enters homes

Luong Dinh Cua Street in District 2 is flooded after heavy rains early yesterday morning. — VNS Photo Linh Le

HCM CITY (VNS)— Heavy downpours early yesterday morning left many streets inundated and several properties damaged in HCM City.

Experts say the situation will remain the same and could even worsen in the coming days.

At the Phu An Observation Station on the Sai Gon River, the water level is expected to reach 1.54m at 5:30am today, according to the Southern Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre.

Districts 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, Tan Phu, Tan Binh, Binh Tan and Binh Thanh experienced serious flooding yesterday. Water levels were reported to be as high as one metre at some places. Many houses were submerged and properties damaged.

On Kinh Duong Vuong Street in Binh Tan District, the engines of many vehicles stalled as they tried to go through the floodwaters.

Nguyen Thanh Truc, a resident of Hau Giang Street in District 6, said flooding in his neighbourhood occurred at between 5 and 6am.

Many people were not prepared for it because they did not access relevant information. When they woke up, water had already entered their homes and damaged many items like furniture, televisions and refrigerators, she said.

According to the Southern Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre, water levels in the Sai Gon River are likely to rise further in the coming days and go past the third danger level.

It would likely be to reach 1.52m at 6am tomorrow, the centre said.

Meanwhile, the water level at the Nha Be Station on the Dong Dien River has already reached 1.52m.

"Reservoirs on the upper reaches of several rivers have begun releasing water and downstream areas have to be prepared for it," officials said.

The Tri An Hydropower Plant on the Dong Nai River started releasing water yesterday at 2,400 cubic metres per second.

The Dau Tieng hydropower reservoir on the Sai Gon River is set to release water at 7am tomorrow at 50 cubic metres per second.

Officials have warned that this could cause many parts of HCM City and other areas in the lower reaches of the Sai Gon and Dong Nai rivers to be inundated in the coming days, disrupting production and the daily lives of people.

The HCM City Steering Committee for Flood Prevention has asked the Fire Fighting and Prevention Department to work with the city police, Transport Department and other agencies so that they are well prepared to respond to any incident caused by the inclement weather conditions, including flooding and the release of reservoir waters. — VNS

COMMENTS

Robert Fries - scott17110@yahoo.com Retired

October, 03 2012 03:40:26

Having spent time living in HCM City in the last few years, there were times where heavy rains flooded the streets. Every year I return to Vietnam it seems to have changed and especially HCMC with its expansion. The US has experienced similar flooding problems with cities along the Mississippi River, particularly with the city at the end, New Orleans. Why so many floods? Two reasons that may be the same in Vietnam: 1. Presence of many dams that alter the natural flow of water. and, 2. Increasing use of wet lands for building cities and expanding them. Wetlands are nature's sponges that soak up extra water. If you build on wetlands, where is the water going to go? Wherever it wants to.. HCMC has a 3rd factor, like New Orleans: Global warming and rising sea levels. New Orleans is below sea level and expensive pumps must be in constant use otherwise the whole city will be under water. I respectfully urge everyone to consider this factors if you have not already. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

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