Rain lets up, Hanoi remains in deep water
(VOV) - Tropical storm Mangkhut’s heavy downpours over the past few days have flooded many parts of the capital city, affecting local people’s daily lives and disrupting traffic.
Although rain eased on August 9, almost every main road was still in deep water, throwing traffic into chaos.
The balancing lakes the city used to cope with heavy showers are well beyond capacity, rendering draining off any more water impossible.
The 76km-long Nhue River that winds through Hanoi continues to swell and is likely to cause massive flooding in the city’s outlying areas.
The Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Limited Company and the municipal Flood and Storm Committee are considering opening Thanh Liet reservoir’s floodgates to decant an appropriate volume of water from the Nhue River into inner rivers and lakes.
Hanoi used a similar tactic to deal with its historic flooding in 2008. It also requested assistance from neighbouring Nam Ha province through the Yen Lenh pumping station.
A Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Limited Company official said if floodwaters do not recede over the coming days, they could breach part of the Nhue River’s embankment system along the city’s ring belt #3.
The company is operating all pumping stations at full capacity in an effort to lessen the flooding.Hanoi flooding in pictures
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| Many streets in Hanoi became ‘rivers’ after August 8’s prolonged heavy rains |
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| Floodwaters caused evening traffic chaos |
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| Service prices were hit by instant inflation. This motorcyclist had to pay VND70,000 to have his motorbike retrieved from the flooded area |
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| Cars were bogged in flooded streets |
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| Many others broke down even after escaping the floodwaters |
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| Some sections of Pham Hung Road in front of Keangnam tower—Hanoi’s tallest building—were under water 1m deep |
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| Floodwaters had yet to subside along Pham Hung road on the morning of August 9 |
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| In front of the Central Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital |
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| A motorist had to pay VND700,000 to have his car towed |
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| Although rain has stopped, the flooding remains |
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| Hanoi’s Tu Liem district is inundated |