Strong winds, thunderstorm topple trees across Ho Chi Minh City

At around 11:30 am, a large tree was uprooted on Ong Ich Khiem Street in Binh Thoi Ward, with no injuries reported.

A few seconds earlier, another tree on the same street lost a large branch, which fell onto the busy road, but missed nearby pedestrians and vehicles.

At noon, a tree fell onto a parked car on Tran Quang Dieu Street in Nhieu Loc Ward. Task forces confirmed there were no injuries in this incident.

Nguyen Van Linh Street in Tan My Ward also witnessed a tree falling at 11:45 am.

Another incident was reported on Rach Cau Suoi Street in Tan Vinh Loc Commune, part of former Binh Chanh District, when a tree was uprooted, smashing a car.

Le Dinh Quyet, head of the forecasting division at the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the widespread thunderstorms were indirectly triggered by the effects of storm Wipha currently active in the East Vietnam Sea.

The storm has intensified southwestern winds and created wind convergence zones, which contributed to the severe weather conditions in the city.

Storm Wipha, the third to enter the East Vietnam Sea this year, is forecast to intensify to level 12 (118-133 kph), with gusts up to level 15 (167-183 kph) on Sunday, affecting Vietnam’s northern coastal provinces, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Quyet warned that thunderstorms and heavy rains are expected to continue in the coming days, urging residents and commuters to remain cautious.