Rains caused flooding at the Hóc Môn General Hospital in HCM City on the evening of Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tình

HCM CITY — Heavy rains over the weekend flooded many places in HCM City, affecting normal life.

A downpour in the late afternoon on Sunday caused flooding in districts 12, Tân Bình, Tân Phú, and Hóc Môn.

The Hóc Môn General Hospital was also flooded, making it difficult for patients.

Đặng Quốc Quân, director of the hospital, said the drainage system had deteriorated badly and the water until evening to recede.

Many areas were under 20-40cm of water, including Bà Điểm Market in Hóc Môn, Nguyễn Văn Quá Street in District 12, and Tân Kỳ Tân Quý Street in Bình Tân.

On Saturday afternoon heavy rains flooded a number of streets in districts Gò vấp and 12. There was even a surprise hail in District 12.

Lê Thị Xuân Lan, former deputy head of the Southern Hydrological and Meteorological Station, said the hail was a result of the prolonged hot weather.

It could lead to more dangerous weather phenomena such as tornadoes and thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds, she added.

Districts 1, 3, 4, 10, 12, Phú Nhuận, Tân Phú, Hóc Môn, and Củ Chi are expected to have scattered rains from April 26 to 29, the station has warned. — VNS