Ho Chi Minh City Police said on October 6 that 12 people had been rescued after becoming trapped as floodwaters rose in the Cai Stream overnight.
Heavy rain from the afternoon of October 5 sent large volumes of water downstream, creating strong currents and causing the stream to rise and flood about 20 hectares. Four households and a workers' camp were affected.
Police use a motorboat to reach deeply flooded areas (Photo: Police).
At around 10.43 pm on October 5, authorities received a report of people trapped at a construction site in Cai Stream. A rescue team of nearly 50 personnel, five specialised vehicles and a motorboat was dispatched to the scene.
Several people were cut off by floodwaters at their homes and at a watch hut used by workers at the Cai Stream dredging project. Rescue efforts were hampered by darkness, rising water and strong currents.
Rescuers used life jackets, a motorboat, floating buoys and rescue ropes, deploying teams from several directions to reach those trapped.
At about 1.25 am on October 6, the first seven people were brought to safety. Two more were rescued by 2.10 am, while the remaining three were taken to safety at around 4 am.
During an inspection after the rescue operation, one of the rescue boats overturned in the strong current. Several officers were forced to remain in the cold water for more than two hours while waiting for another boat to arrive.
The search and rescue operation ended at 5.30 am, with all 12 people brought to safety.
All 12 residents trapped in the fast-flowing water are rescued safely by police (Photo: Police).
Despite the darkness, high water levels and strong currents, rescue teams remained at the scene and continued working in flooded areas until everyone was safely evacuated.
