The whole neighborhood stays up all night in the middle of the sea According to Lao Dong's records late on October 24, the high tide in Binh Quoi area has not yet receded.
Water from the river overflowed the embankment, seeping into people's houses, causing the whole neighborhood to be deeply submerged in water.
In the middle of the night, the roar of the pump and the sound of the pot bucket rang out unstoppably. People take turns scooping, slapping, and pumping water out of their homes under the misty lights.
"For the past two days, my house has been submerged in water, all my belongings are wet, and I have stayed up all night to get a bucket of water. Today's offering is even higher than yesterday," said Mr. Hoang Van Khoa (Binh Quoi ward), his voice was tired.
Not only Mr. Khoa, Ms. Le Thi Thu said that she had to send her young child to an acquaintance's house to avoid flooding. "The house is wet and cannot be moved. I just hope the water recedes soon so I can clean up and go back to work," she said.
At lot F Thanh Da residential area, Ms. Truong Thi Mai Thao (54 years old) had just finished clearing the mud from the morning until the afternoon when the water rose again. "I thought I would rest, but I thought I would continue moving. I haven't slept at all in the past two days," Ms. Thao shared.
In a damp house, furniture is arranged high, the refrigerator is placed on the bed, the pillowcase is on the table. "Last night, I just lowered my belongings, thinking the water had receded, if I heard the news of the high tide, I had to raise it. The refrigerator and washing machine must have been broken since yesterday, Ms. Thao added.
Sandbags and pumps helpless before record tides
In alley 140 Binh Quoi, after the flooding on the night of October 23, people contributed 50,000 VND to each house to buy sandbags to block the alley entrance. By the afternoon of October 24, when the water rose, the whole neighborhood was busy buying more bags and preparing pumps. But the water still overflowed, up to the knees.
"When I get a little pumping, the water will flood in, only to a certain extent but I can't resist", said Mr. Lam - the owner of the beef noodle shop in the alley. Having lived here for nearly 30 years, he said that the drainage system had deteriorated and he could not stand the rapid and strong tide.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van (61 years old) is also in alley 140, using a board to block the door, not to block the water, but to keep things from drifting onto the road.
"I know that there will be flooding at all costs, so I just try not to lose things. Every night I stay up to watch the water, afraid that the power outage will be dangerous, she shared.
According to the Southern Hydrometeorological Station, the peak tide on the evening of October 24 reached nearly 1.8m, the highest level this year, causing severe flooding in many places. This is a tide that reaches level 2 natural disaster risk level, which can be more serious if heavy rain appears at the same time. Local authorities have mobilized militia to put up warning signs and be on duty to support people moving through deeply flooded areas at night.
