An Phu intersection jammed as underpass closes due to flooding

Traffic congestion and chaos gripped Ho Chi Minh City's largest eastern intersection on the morning of 11/9 after its underpass was temporarily shut down to address severe flooding.

Traffic came to a standstill around the An Phu intersection on the morning of 11/9 after heavy rain last night caused severe flooding in the underpass. Authorities were forced to close the tunnel to manage the incident, leading to widespread congestion.

The An Phu intersection is one of Ho Chi Minh City's largest traffic hubs, connecting the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway with major arteries such as Mai Chi Tho, Luong Dinh Cua, Nguyen Thi Dinh, and Dong Van Cong.

One section of the An Phu underpass was temporarily closed. Last night, water levels rose about half a meter in both directions near the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, forcing many vehicles to turn back.

Inside the underpass, flooding stretched for approximately 300 m. Fire police from Area 2 deployed specialized vehicles and pumps to remove the water. The Urban Drainage Company of Ho Chi Minh City also dispatched sludge suction trucks to assist in the cleanup.

Authorities utilized two high-capacity pumps to drain water from the flooded tunnel onto Song Hanh street.

Thousands of vehicles formed long queues at the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway exit towards the An Phu intersection. Normally, oto from this direction would use the underpass to reach Mai Chi Tho street and access central Ho Chi Minh City. With the underpass closed, traffic was diverted to the roundabout, creating a jam over 2 km long.

The prolonged congestion prompted many drivers to exit their vehicles and stand on the road, frustrated by the long wait. Driver Thanh Trung, 60, who was transporting goods from Dong Nai to Binh Chanh, reported being stuck at the An Phu roundabout for about 45 minutes without moving. "Normally, I use the underpass and it's very fast. Today, with the road closed, traffic has been inching along all morning, sometimes completely stopped for extended periods," said Trung.