Ho Chi Minh City district almost sinks beneath rainwater

The situation was discussed at a hearing of the law-making People’s Council of the city on September 24.

According to the urban management unit in Binh Tan, 400 hectares of residential areas were flooded after a recent rain, accounting for one-thirteenth of the total area of the district (5,200 hectares).

The inundated areas are situated near such canals as Ba Tieng, Nhay, Ruot Ngua, Ong Bup, 10X, Ap Chien Luoc, and Lien Xa.

In addition, six streets serving as the main axis in the district, such as Kinh Duong Vuong, An Duong Vuong, Tran Dai Nghia, and Ho Hoc Lam, were under 0.5-0.8 meters of rainwater.

Tens of other streets connected to these axes have sunk under water, too.

Rainwater tends to linger for 8 to 24 hours on average in the district.

One of the reasons leading to those areas being flooded is a blockage at the said canals.

Besides, the construction of hundreds of meters of drainage system has been delayed due to protests from locals for disagreement over land compensation prices.

Le Minh Nhut, chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Tri Dong A Ward, said many areas in his locality were once inundated under over a meter of water after a torrential rain.

It resulted from abundant rubbish and water plants blocking the water flow of the Ap Chien Luoc Canal, which has yet to be dredged effectively, he added.

Binh Tan officials have confirmed that only several places in the district are free from floodwater after a rain.

The Ho Chi Minh City center in charge of floodwater control said the district has three sites possibly sinking beneath 0.5 meters of water.

Le Van Thinh, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Tan, said his district is in charge of dredging 11 canals while 32 others will be dredged by the flood prevention center.

Do Tan Long, head of the department for drainage under the flood control center, said that high capacity water pumps will be installed at both ends of the An Lac Bridge on Kinh Duong Vuong Street and in other sites to temporarily drain floodwater out of busy streets and residential areas.