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High tides flood Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, disrupt commutes

High tides flood Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, disrupt commutes

Friday, October 18, 2024, 09:48 GMT+7
High tides flood Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7, disrupt commutes
Khuu Thu Lan, 77, watches TV in her flooded house down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

High tides on Friday morning worsened flooding in parts of District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, already drenched from Thursday afternoon’s downpour, making the morning rush hour a challenge for commuters.

The combination of heavy rains and rising tides has left many parts of the city, particularly riverside districts like District 7, struggling with significant water levels.

By early Friday, water had surged from drains along Bui Van Ba Street, reaching depths of up to a meter by 7:00 a.m.

Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is flooded, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is flooded, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

The flooding was intensified by the persistent high tides and Thursday’s rain, leaving many areas submerged.

As a result, District 7, a key route for many commuters, has experienced major disruptions during the morning rush hour.

A man wade through floodwaters carrying his daughter to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

A man wades through floodwaters carrying his daughter to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Many parents were forced to wade through floodwaters to get their children to school, some wrapping bags and shoes in plastic to keep them dry.

The sight of parents trudging through the water with children hoisted on their shoulders has raised concern among many city residents.

A woman splashes water out of her home down the flooded Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

A woman splashes water out of her home down the flooded Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

“This morning, the flood was so high that I couldn’t even drive my motorbike,” said Mai Ngoc, whose child is enrolled in a local elementary school. 

“I had to carry my child on my back and walk along the flooded road. 

“It was really tough, especially since he’s still young and can’t walk steadily in the water.”

Le Van Ky, 58, a resident of District 7, said, “I stayed up all night trying to drain water from our house."

“My family of six ended up sleeping at a nearby hotel because our house was completely soaked."

Parents wade through floodwaters carrying their children to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Parents wade through floodwaters carrying their children to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Similarly, Le Hoang Anh Vu, 54, described life during the high-tide floods as “being imprisoned.”

“Flooding has happened before, but it used to recede quickly,” Vu recalled. 

“Now, the situation has worsened. 

“Before the water can go down, more rain and rising tides make it even worse. 

“I hope the authorities will take action to alleviate the flooding and restore normalcy to our lives.”

A man wades through floodwaters carrying his son to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A man wades through floodwaters carrying his son to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

According to the Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Center, Ho Chi Minh City is expected to experience peak high tides on Friday. 

The highest tide levels at the Phu An and Nha Be stations could reach between 1.70 and 1.75 meters, occurring between 4:00-7:00 am and 4:00-7:00 pm. 

A man wades through floodwaters down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A man wades through floodwaters down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is flooded, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is flooded, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

A man wades through floodwaters carrying his daughter to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A man wades through floodwaters carrying his daughter to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

People wade through floodwaters down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

People wade through floodwaters down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

A housed down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is flooded, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

A housed down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is flooded, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Residents look out from their houses down the flooded Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Residents look out from their houses down the flooded Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

A man wades through floodwaters carrying his daughter to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

A man wades through floodwaters carrying his daughter to school down Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is flooded, October 18, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

Alley 67 on Bui Van Ba Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City is flooded, October 18, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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