Brian Jeffrey
Hanoi faced heavy rainfall from the night of September 15th to the morning of September 16th, resulting in widespread flooding and severe traffic congestion during rush hour.
The downpour started late on September 15th, leading to waterlogging in various areas of the city.
By dawn, Nguyen Tuan Street had become almost inaccessible, with water levels reaching 50 centimeters. This flooding resulted in numerous vehicles breaking down, forcing many locals to wade through the streets.
Significant flooding affected other major roads, including Nguyen Trai and Quang Trung, making the traffic situation even worse. Vehicles struggled through the dense water, and pedestrians were left with no choice but to navigate through the flooded areas.
Route 70, which connects Military Hospital 103 and K Tan Trieu Hospital in Thanh Tri, saw water covering a stretch of 2 kilometers. The deepest part recorded water levels of 0.5 meters, rendering traffic nearly impossible. Many motorcyclists opted to lift their bikes onto rescue vehicles to prevent further damage.
On Phung Hung – Buuo Bridge Road, water also reached half a meter deep. Likewise, Quang Trung Street from Van Phu – Le Trong Tan intersection in Ha Dong was submerged for more than 200 meters, causing substantial delays.
By 8:30 AM, several roads were still underwater. Hoang Dao Thanh Street in Thanh Xuan District remained heavily flooded, while water levels on Nguyen Xien Street began to decline, yet traffic was still slow as drivers avoided deeper sections.
In some instances, drivers frustrated by the conditions used the opposite side of the road to circumvent the flooded areas, which only added to the overall traffic chaos.
Major thoroughfares like Thang Long Avenue suffered from flooding, worsening the congestion spread throughout the city. The service road along Thang Long Avenue was particularly deep in water, contributing to the gridlock.
The Hanoi Drainage Company reported significant rainfall throughout the city by 6:30 AM, with Thanh Xuan District experiencing 154.5 mm, while Hoang Mai, Nam Tu Liem, Ha Dong, Hai Ba Trung, and Ba Dinh had over 100 mm of rain. The most affected area was Dong Anh District, where rainfall approached 230 mm.
The hardest-hit locations included:
– Thai Ha, Quan Nhan, Bui Xuong Trach, Vuong Thua Vu, Nguyen Tuan, Cu Loc, Nguyen Khuyen.
– The intersection of Dien Bien Phu – Nguyen Tri Phuong, Lien Tri – Nguyen Gia Thieu, Phung Hung, and Phan Boi Chau – Ly Thuong Kiet, Thuy Khue, and Cao Ba Quat.
– Underpasses at Thien Duc, Nam Duong, and alley 80 Hoa Lam.
– Additional critical spots included Co Linh, Dam Quang Trung, Vu Xuan Thieu, Ngoc Lam, and underpasses along Thang Long Avenue.
The city’s drainage systems were unable to cope with the volume of water, prompting response teams to work tirelessly to clear blockages and manage pumping stations to reduce flooding impacts.
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Traffic conditions were challenging, with many motorcyclists resorting to walking or using rescue trucks for their vehicles.
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By 8:30 AM, Hoang Dao Thanh Street (Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi) was still under water.
Water levels on Nguyen Xien Street had started to drop, yet traffic remained slow as the flow of cars and motorcycles from Thanh Xuan to Thanh Tri was still hindered.
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The service road on Thang Long Avenue was significantly flooded.
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