Torrential rain submerges Hanoi streets, causes traffic chaos

At around 7:50 pm, severe flooding submerged parts of Xuan Dinh Street in the namesake ward, with water rising above motorbike wheels. 

Many vehicles stalled, forcing residents to push them through the floodwaters.

Vo Chi Cong Street, from the Nhat Tan Bridge toward the city center, was heavily flooded in front of Lotte Mall Tay Ho, leading to long traffic jams and multiple vehicle breakdowns.

Ring Road No. 3 also experienced localized flooding as the drainage system became overwhelmed by the intense rainfall.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning, northern mountainous and midland areas could see moderate to heavy rain, with some places receiving over 250mm of rainfall, mostly during the evening and nighttime hours.

The national weather agency warned of intense rainfall exceeding 100mm within three hours, which could trigger flash floods, landslides in mountainous areas, and severe urban flooding in low-lying neighborhoods and industrial zones.