Residents are rescued after becoming trapped by floodwaters at Suối Cái in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Rescue teams in HCM City saved 12 people trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters at a Suối Cái dredging site early Tuesday after heavy rain caused a sudden surge of water downstream.

The 12 people were stranded as floodwaters rose rapidly around the site in Tân Khánh Ward, authorities said.

Heavy rain on Monday afternoon caused water levels in Suối Cái to rise sharply, flooding about 20ha and isolating four households and a workers' camp at the dredging project.

The city's Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue Police Division received an emergency call at 10.43pm on Monday and deployed 48 officers and soldiers, along with rescue vehicles and a motorboat.

Rescuers used life jackets, floating devices and ropes to reach people trapped in houses and a shelter used to guard construction equipment.

Seven people were brought to safety at about 1.25am on Tuesday. After receiving information that more people could still be trapped, rescuers continued searching the flooded area.

Two more people were rescued at about 2.10am, followed by another three before 4am. The operation ended at 5:30am, with all 12 people safely evacuated.

The rescue operation itself became dangerous when the motorboat overturned in the strong current while officers were making a final inspection of the area. The officers remained in the floodwater for more than two hours before another rescue team reached them.

Flooding also affected areas along the Thạnh Phước canal, where water inundated more than 500m of ĐT 747B Road by nearly one metre.

Hundreds of homes along the canal were flooded, while several businesses were affected, disrupting production.

Authorities blocked traffic on both sides of Khánh Vân Bridge and helped residents pass through the flooded area and evacuate households in low-lying locations.

Local authorities said heavy rain in the former Tân Uyên area on Monday evening sent large volumes of water from upstream into streams crossing the area, causing flooding on roads and in residential areas.

Water levels had largely receded by Tuesday morning, allowing residents to return to normal activities.

The flooding came as HCM City and southern Việt Nam face a period of heavy rain. The Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Centre forecast rainfall of 60-140mm in HCM City from 1pm Monday to 1pm Wednesday, with some areas expected to receive more than 150mm.

The rainy spell is forecast to continue until October 10, with authorities warning of flooding in low-lying areas and along rivers, canals and small streams.

The centre said an intensifying intertropical convergence zone was contributing to the increased rainfall and warned that water levels could rise rapidly in areas near streams and waterways.

Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone areas to monitor weather conditions, avoid crossing flooded roads and waterways, and move to safer locations when water levels rise. — VNS