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

Prolonged rain sent strong water down Ly Te Xuyen Street in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday evening, while traffic backed up for kilometers on Pham Van Dong and Mai Chi Tho boulevards, Hanoi Highway and other 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. More than an hour of rain leaves the approach to Ba Son Bridge in the Thu Thiem urban area flooded to half a wheel's depth. Motorbikes coming down the Ba Son Bridge approach plunge into water nearly half a wheel deep, and waves push against them, making it hard for riders to keep control.