On the afternoon of 27/8, floodwaters from the upstream Ma, Chu, and Buoi rivers continued to flow downstream into Thanh Hoa province, submerging many roads and disrupting traffic.

Two sections of Highway 1 passing through Hoat Giang commune are flooded with 70-80 cm of water, stretching for about 2 km. The flooding affects both north and south-bound traffic. Currently, only large vehicles such as container trucks, semi-trailers, and trucks with large tires can navigate the flooded areas. Motorbikes and small cars are forced to turn back or hire rescue vehicles to transport them across the flooded sections.

Floodwaters reach the top of truck tires on Highway 1 through Hoat Giang commune on the afternoon of 27/8. Photo: Khanh Trinh

Early this morning, Hoang Khanh Trinh drove his Mazda CX-5 from Hac Thanh ward for work in the Bim Son area. Upon returning that afternoon, he found Highway 1 in Hoat Giang deeply flooded. Witnessing numerous similar vehicles stalled in the floodwaters, Trinh chose to hire a rescue vehicle to tow his car across. The rescue service cost him 500,000 VND.

According to Trinh, many drivers, either underestimating the situation or hesitant to spend money, attempted to drive through the flooded areas and stalled their vehicles. Others were knocked off their bikes by the strong currents. Hundreds of vehicles were damaged or submerged at the two flooded locations on Highway 1 in Hoat Giang commune today. The Quang Xuong traffic police station has deployed officers to set up warning signs, manage traffic flow, and assist those affected.

In addition to Highway 1, sections of Highway 217 through Cam Thuy and Vinh Loc communes; Highway 45 through Tay Do and Yen Dinh communes; Highway 10 through Nga An commune (bordering Ninh Binh province); and Highway 47 through Thuong Xuan commune are also experiencing closures due to the flooding.

Highway 47 through Thuong Xuan commune is currently heavily flooded, making it impassable. Photo: Le Hoang

Several roads, including 15C to Muong Lat and provincial road 521C through Eo Ken and Pa Ban villages in Pu Luong commune, are also blocked by tens of thousands of cubic meters of landslides. The Thanh Hoa Department of Construction is working with local authorities to deploy machinery to clear the debris and reopen the roads.

The remnants of Typhoon Kajiki have brought heavy rain to Thanh Hoa. Water levels in the Ma, Chu, Buoi, and Cau Chay rivers are rising rapidly, exceeding alarm level three in many areas. Tens of thousands of households in Cam Thuy, Vinh Loc, Thach Thanh, and Ham Rong communes are inundated.

Le Hoang