Heavy to very heavy rain left many Hanoi streets, including Duong Dinh Nghe, Le Quang Dao and Thai Ha, deeply flooded. Three consecutive days of rain have overwhelmed drainage systems in some low-lying areas, causing widespread travel disruption.
Floodwater reached 50-60cm near the Keangnam building on Duong Dinh Nghe Street, making some sections impassable to vehicles. Motorcyclists were forced to move along higher sections of the road, turn back or get off and push their bikes through the water.
Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Company reported flooding at numerous locations as of 6am, including Duong Dinh Nghe-Pham Hung, Hoa Bang, roads around My Dinh Stadium, Tan My, Phan Van Truong, Tran Binh, To Huu, Luong The Vinh, Thanh Cong and Huynh Thuc Khang.
Several sections of Duong Dinh Nghe Street were deeply flooded, forcing vehicles to move slowly through the water and sending waves towards both sides of the road.
Hanoi Drainage Company said rainfall had exceeded 100mm at several monitoring stations by 6am, reaching 183mm in Hai Ba Trung, 167mm in Phu Do, 163mm in Yen So, 157mm in Cau Giay and 150mm in Tay Mo.
Many motorists had to get off and push their vehicles through flooded sections, while recovery vehicles operated continuously in the area.
Hanoi Drainage Company workers directed vehicles away from deeply flooded sections.
Parts of Thai Ha Street were deeply flooded at around 5.30am, disrupting traffic. Hanoi traffic police urged motorists to avoid deeply flooded areas, slow down and maintain a safe distance in poor visibility.
The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said convective clouds were developing and moving northwestwards across Hanoi, with rain and thunderstorms expected to spread and bring possible tornadoes, lightning and strong gusts.
