Around 2:30 p.m., heavy rain poured down on the Dong Hoa, Di An, and Tan Dong Hiep wards, formerly part of Binh Duong Province and now within Ho Chi Minh City. The downpour caused the Siep stream to swell and overflow.

Heavy rain caused water from the Siep stream to overflow, resulting in localized flooding. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Heavy rain caused water from the Siep stream to overflow, resulting in localized flooding. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

At the border between Dong Hoa ward (Ho Chi Minh City) and Bien Hoa ward (Dong Nai Province), rising waters caused localized flooding on Highway 1K. Due to ongoing flood-prevention construction in this area, a lane closure created a bottleneck, hindering traffic flow.

This caused significant congestion on the key route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province. Traffic was backed up from My Phuoc - Tan Van (from Ho Chi Minh City towards Dong Nai) and from Hoa An bridge (in the opposite direction) to the construction site. Many cars encroached on motorcycle lanes, exacerbating the gridlock, and many people waited for the water to recede before proceeding.

Police from both localities and the construction unit worked to manage the traffic. By 4:30 p.m., the congestion had eased, but traffic through the area remained slow.

Flooding on Highway 1K at the construction site made it difficult for vehicles to pass. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Flooding on Highway 1K at the construction site made it difficult for vehicles to pass. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Highway 1K, spanning over 21 km, is a vital artery connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province. Almost 7 km of the highway runs through Ho Chi Minh City, with the remainder in Dong Nai. Recently, the border area has frequently experienced severe flooding during heavy rains, with floodwaters even sweeping away vehicles.

Phuoc Tuan