Heavy rain turns steep street into waterfall in Ho Chi Minh City

Prolonged rain sent strong water down steep streets in eastern Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday evening, while traffic backed up on many central roads. Widespread, prolonged rain sends water gushing like a waterfall down Ly Te Xuyen Street where it meets Linh Dong Street in eastern HCMC. Many passersby have to push their motorbikes on foot as the current reaches halfway up their wheels. The strong current sends vehicles wobbling, and local residents help others push their bikes through the water. The strong current sends vehicles wobbling, and local residents help others push their bikes through the water. The strong current sends vehicles wobbling, and local residents help others push their bikes through the water. People struggle to get off their motorbikes and walk along Ly Te Xuyen Street. People struggle to get off their motorbikes and walk along Ly Te Xuyen Street. People struggle to get off their motorbikes and walk along Ly Te Xuyen Street. Van Sinh, 70, said the area has flooded for more than 20 years, and even after the rain stops, it takes several more hours for the water to fully recede. Street No. 2 is deeply flooded at its intersection with Hanoi Highway, where many vehicles stalled and caused congestion. Nearby, Pham Van Dong Boulevard is also backed up for nearly 3 km in both directions. Vehicles on the overpass from Dong Van Cong Street are backed up waiting to pass through the An Phu intersection toward Vo Nguyen Giap Street. Container trucks, cars and motorbikes are all gridlocked around the intersection. Unlike during the previous downpour, the underpass there did not flood this time, and cars could still crawl through. Heavy rain during rush hour caused prolonged traffic congestion on several central streets, with vehicles stretching for more than a kilometer from Ton Duc Thang to the Le Duan–Dinh Tien Hoang intersection. Cars moved slowly through the area. Heavy rain during rush hour caused prolonged traffic congestion on several central streets, with vehicles stretching for more than a kilometer from Ton Duc Thang to the Le Duan–Dinh Tien Hoang intersection. Cars moved slowly through the area. Heavy rain during rush hour caused prolonged traffic congestion on several central streets, with vehicles stretching for more than a kilometer from Ton Duc Thang to the Le Duan–Dinh Tien Hoang intersection. Cars moved slowly through the area. In the southern area, about 10 km from Ho Chi Minh City's center, a nearly 1.5-km stretch of Le Van Luong Street was submerged under more than half a meter of water. Most vehicles stalled while passing through, forcing riders to push them. Some residents moved their vehicles onto the sidewalk to shelter from the flooding and wait for the water to recede. Waves splashed onto the roadside whenever large vehicles passed, prompting households to use cardboard sheets to keep water from entering their homes.