Due to the impact of storm Kajiki, from the night of August 25 to the morning of August 26, Hanoi suffered heavy rain, many places recorded rainfall of 150-200mm; Thuong Tin alone suffered more than 160mm in just 8 hours.
A series of major streets such as Thang Long Avenue, Pham Hung, Le Quang Dao, Nguyen Xien... were deeply flooded, hundreds of cars and motorbikes stalled in the water. Record rainfall: Hai Ba Trung 315mm, Yen So 310mm, Tay Mo 271mm, Yen Nghia 267mm, Hoang Liet 235mm, Ha Dong 214mm, Tu Liem 191mm. The whole city had about 40 flooded spots, causing traffic chaos.
Prolonged heavy rain caused many people to leave home early in the morning, and after 4-5 hours they still could not get to the office. By 11 noon, many areas were still deeply flooded, causing traffic congestion.
According to Lao Dong, at the intersection of Duy Tan and Pham Hung streets (Cau Giay ward), the water was about 30cm deep, making it impossible for people to move.
To support, Mr. Phung Van Tue - security guard of building No. 3 Pham Hung was on duty from 6:30 am to guide people through the building grounds (where there was no flooding) to Duy Tan Street, towards the city center.
"This area is low-lying, and every time it rains heavily, it is flooded, but this time the water has risen and spread unprecedentedly. Motorbikes passing by often stalled, so I stood at the gate early in the morning to show people how to get through the building to avoid flooding," Mr. Tue shared.
On the main traffic axis such as Pham Hung Street - where there is a lot of traffic, especially during rush hour, the traffic police work at an urgent pace.
Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Chien, Captain of Traffic Police Team No. 6, said: "We have increased the number of forces on duty continuously at flooded hot spots such as Pham Hung - Ton That Thuyet intersections, the area in front of My Dinh Stadium, the entrance to Thang Long Avenue and along Tran Duy Hung route. The soldiers not only divert traffic but also directly support people to move through flooded sections, ensuring absolute safety".
In front of the gate of Cau Giay Ward People's Committee, the flooding was also serious, causing prolonged traffic congestion. There are sections where the water rises upward along the waist, causing difficulties for both pedestrians and vehicles.
From early in the morning, dozens of officers and soldiers of the People's Committee and the Ward Police opened gate No. 2 on Ton That Thuyet Street, creating a temporary path for people to cross the flooded area safely.
According to the leader of the Traffic Police Department (Hanoi City Police), as soon as heavy rain caused widespread flooding, the unit deployed an emergency response plan. Solutions focus on increasing forces at hot spots, allocating maximum numbers of troops at key intersections and areas at risk of deep flooding, ensuring the always presence of traffic police to regulate traffic and support people.
The Traffic Police Department also requested teams to strengthen inter-sectoral coordination, including Hanoi Drainage Company, Ward Police and rescue forces to promptly handle flooding situations. At the same time, the loudspeaker system, Traffic VOV channel and media are used to continuously update the situation, advising people to avoid dangerous routes.
The leader of the Traffic Police Department emphasized that the soldiers were fully equipped with raincoats, protective equipment and support vehicles to ensure safety and be ready to help people in harsh weather conditions. Colonel Tran Dinh Nghia - Head of the Traffic Police Department affirmed: "The Traffic Police force not only does the task of traffic diversion but also has to be a support for people in difficult times. Units are always proactive and ready to support at any time.
Since receiving information about storm No. 5, traffic police teams have developed a large-scale flood response scenario, predicted hot spots and allocated forces appropriately. The entire army is mobilized to the maximum, deployed at Ring Road 2, Ring Road 3, the radial axes and the routes leading to the center of the capital.
