Many streets and alleys in HCM City were severely flooded as heavy rains and high tides caused a double whammy. People pushing their stalled vehicles was a common sight. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp

HCM CITY — Heavy rains will continue in the south-central and southern regions on Monday (November 26), with 30-70mm expected in most places and up to 100mm in some areas, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

On Monday morning, there were moderate to heavy rains in Tân Trụ District in Long An Province and Bình Chánh, Củ Chi and Hóc Môn districts in HCM City as Storm No 9 (Typhoon Usagi) weakened into a tropical depression.

HCM City and Long An and Tây Ninh provinces are also at risk of severe flooding in low-lying areas.

Heavy rainfall on Sunday afternoon and night and early Monday morning meant some parts of the city received as much as 400mm.

Lê Đình Quyết, deputy director of the Southern Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting’s forecast department, said this is the highest ever rainfall recorded in a 24-hour period in the city.

Tân Bình District topped with 407.6mm, Nhà Bè District recorded 345mm, the city centre received 301mm, and Cần Giờ on the coast, 293mm.

Some 60 spots in the city were reported flooded as heavy rainfall, which began on Sunday afternoon, and high tides inundated many of the city’s roads and alleys.

They included Hồ Ngọc Lãm and Phan Anh streets in Bình Tân District; Lê Văn Việt, Đỗ Xuân Hợp and Lã Xuân Oai streets in District 9; Phạm Văn Chiêu and Lê Đức Thọ streets in Gò Vấp; many streets in District 2’s Thảo Điền Ward; Nguyễn Văn Quá Street in District 12; Võ Văn Ngân, Kha Vạn Cân, Bình Chiểu and Tô Ngọc Vân streets in Thủ Đức; Phạm Thế Hiển Street in District 8; Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Nguyễn Gia Trí and Bạch Đằng streets in Bình Thạnh; and 3/2 Street in District 10.

A screen grab from a mobile phone shows the HCM City drainage company’s flood warning software indicating more than 40 areas around the city were submerged at 6pm on November 25.

Huỳnh Tấn Phát Street in District 7, which is undergoing repairs, was submerged under a metre of water.

Đồng Văn Cống, Nguyễn Thị Định and Nguyễn Duy Trinh streets in District 2 were under 0.5 metre of water.

Many motorbikes and cars broke down on flooded streets.

Water also flowed into houses in low-lying areas, and people had to stay awake at night to prevent damage.

Nguyễn Hoàng Anh Dũng, deputy director of the city’s Steering Centre for Flood Control, said nearly 700 workers had been mobilised to clear garbage choking sewers at many places.

The centre also mobilised 27 pumps to drain water from noon on Sunday, but the city’s drainage system could not handle the water, he said.

Reservoirs and other components of the water supply and sewage system would continue to work at full capacity to prevent loss of life and property, Dũng said.

The losses caused so far by the flooding cannot be estimates yet, he said.

One person was reported killed by a falling tree on Nguyễn Văn Linh in Bình Chánh District.

Several trees also fell on Mạc Thiên Tích Street in District 5, Hoàng Diệu Street in District 4 and Duyên Hải in Cần Giờ, but no casualties or losses have been reported.

An electricity pole fell on a car parked on Thái Văn Lung Street in District 1, damaging it and causing a power outage at 19 homes in the vicinity.

On Sunday evening, the Southern Power Corporation co-ordinated with local authorities to cut electricity in some severely flooded areas such as District 7 and Bình Tân, Bình Thạnh and Gò Vấp districts to ensure public safety.

Many domestic and international flights had to be delayed or diverted from Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport.

The city Department of Education and Training has ordered the closure of schools on Monday.

The city People’s Committee ordered schools in Cần Giờ District to close on Monday and Tuesday. — VNS