On the evening of September 10, a spell of heavy rain lasting more than two hours turned several major streets in Ho Chi Minh City into rivers, causing deep flooding and severe traffic paralysis. The worst-hit routes included Ung Van Khiem, Tan Cang, Dinh Bo Linh and Xo Viet Nghe Tinh.
Some sections of Ung Van Khiem Street in Thanh My Tay Ward were submerged, leaving numerous vehicles stalled and traffic at a complete standstill.
Two schoolchildren wade home through floodwater after classes ended.
Many pedestrians kept to the pavement to avoid the deep floodwater on Ung Van Khiem Street.
By 8 pm, although the rain had eased, water had yet to fully recede from many streets, continuing to hamper travel.
A string of vehicles stalled while passing through the flooded section of Ung Van Khiem Street.
On Tan Cang Street, Huong said: “I tried to ride through the deeply flooded section, but my motorbike stalled. Now I have to call a relative to pick me up and find a way to get the bike repaired.”
Many others faced the same situation, with belongings falling into the water as they tried to cross the flooded road.
According to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Centre, the downpour was caused by an intertropical convergence zone stretching across the south-central region, combined with a south-westerly monsoon of moderate intensity.
The meteorological agency also forecast that in the coming days, rainfall in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces would continue to increase in both coverage and volume, raising the risk of further flooding.