Life goes on amidst record tidal floods in Ho Chi Minh City
Wednesday, December 06, 2017, 10:24 GMT+7
Tuesday’s tidal peak of 1.68 meters was equal to that of last month, which remains the highest the southern hub has seen in 61 years, according to the Southern Region Hydro-Meteorological Center (SRHMC).
The water level peaked at around 6:30 pm yesterday while the gravitational pull of a full moon was at its strongest, but several streets were already underwater.
On Tran Xuan Soan Street in District 7, street vendors were forced to elevate their stock and save what they could from the rising flood water, while locals set up barriers in front of their homes to shield themselves from the ‘tidal waves’ generated by passing vehicles.
“This street has been inundated for the last three days,” said Le Van Chinh, who runs a street-side stall selling Vietnamese pancakes (Banh Xeo). “However, today is the worst, both flood-wise and business-wise.”
Several other streets in District 4, District 7, Binh Tan District and Nha Be District suffered a similar fate.
According to the SRHMC, another high tide of between 1.65 and 1.66m is expected on Wednesday night, but is expected to recede thereafter.
“This is the worst tidal flooding I’ve ever seen,” said Nguyen Thanh Hong, a resident of Nha Be District. “The water rose faster and reached a higher level than ever.”
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| Le Van Chin makes Vietnamese pancakes while surrounded by floodwater on Tran Xuan Soan Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City December 5, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Thanh, a shop owner on Tran Xuan Soan Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, waits for water to recede on December 5, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A man pushes his motorbike through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Fruits are moved to higher ground during the flood. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A motorcyclist struggles through waist-deep floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| To Thi Ut sits in floodwater while selling her remaining vegetables. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Commuters push their vehicles through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Commuters push their vehicles through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A banh mi stand is surrounded. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A repairman fixes a motorbike that has broken down. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A mother and child wait in the flood water while their motorbike gets fixed. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A student calls for help after getting stuck in the waist-deep water. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A motorized cyclo helps to transport stranded commuters. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A bike is abandoned. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A mother and child wade through waist-deep floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A barrier is set up in front of a house. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Commuters push their vehicles through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Commuters push their vehicles through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Commuters push their vehicles through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Commuters push their vehicles through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Motorbikes are loaded onto a motorized cyclo to be transport through a flooded street. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A motorcyclist struggles through waist-deep floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A motorcyclist struggles through waist-deep floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| A man carries his child through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Two men put their bicycle on a float to pull it through the floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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| Commuters push their vehicles through floodwater. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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