HANOI – Residents of Vietnam's capital awoke Wednesday morning to scenes of chaos as vast swathes of the city were submerged by severe flooding following a night of relentless, heavy rainfall. The downpour, which began late Tuesday and continued into the early hours of Wednesday, has overwhelmed the city's drainage systems, turning major streets into rivers and causing significant disruption to daily life and transportation.
The impact is being felt across numerous districts, with critical transportation arteries and residential neighborhoods alike inundated. Commuters faced a nightmare journey, with countless motorbikes and cars stalled in floodwaters that reached knee-deep, and in some low-lying areas, waist-deep. The severe waterlogging has led to widespread traffic gridlock, forcing many to abandon their vehicles or cancel their morning travel plans altogether.
The situation is particularly dire for residents in lower-elevation areas. Many families were woken by the alarming sight of murky water seeping into their homes, prompting a desperate scramble to move furniture, electronics, and other valuable belongings to higher ground. Ground-floor businesses, shops, and markets have also suffered significant inundation, with owners now facing a difficult cleanup and potential economic losses.
In response to the crisis, municipal authorities have mobilized emergency services across the capital. Drainage workers have been deployed to clear clogged drains and operate pumping stations at maximum capacity in an effort to expedite the receding of the floodwaters.
"Our teams have been working non-stop since the early morning," a representative from the Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Company stated. "The sheer volume of rainfall in such a short period has put immense pressure on the entire system, but our priority is to clear the main routes as quickly as possible."
Meanwhile, traffic police and civil defense units are on the ground, directing vehicles away from the most heavily flooded areas and providing assistance to stranded citizens. Officials are advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel until the water levels have substantially decreased.
This event highlights Hanoi's ongoing vulnerability to extreme weather. While seasonal flooding is not uncommon, the frequency and intensity of such events have raised concerns among experts and residents about the adequacy of the city's infrastructure in the face of rapid urbanization and the increasing impacts of climate change.
