Heavy Rain Floods Streets and Snarls Traffic in Ho Chi Minh City

A prolonged downpour caused deep flooding and severe traffic jams on many streets in Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of September 22.

Meteorologists said an active intertropical convergence zone over the south-central and southern regions brought widespread heavy rain, which is forecast to continue until September 24 with typical totals of 70 to 150 mm. Rising water forced many motorbike riders to push their vehicles, and traffic backed up for nearly 3 km in both directions on Pham Van Dong Street and the Hanoi Highway.

Some stretches were flooded more than half a meter deep for over 1.5 km, and many motorbikes stalled in the water. Residents said the flooding lasted for hours even after the rain stopped, severely disrupting travel.