Reason for 'flash flood' in residential area in Dong Nai

Heavy rain, overloaded drainage system in Nhon Trach industrial park, steep terrain caused floodwaters to flow down causing severe damage to residential areas.

Roads in Hiep Phuoc town damaged after flash floods. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Earlier, on the afternoon of June 4, a two-hour rainstorm and a tornado created a waterfall that flooded and swept away many houses and property of dozens of households in Hamlet 5, Hiep Phuoc Town, Nhon Trach District. More than 500 meters of asphalt road were also damaged and peeled off by the water.

Mr. Tran Van Ha, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hiep Phuoc town, said that the town has a rather steep terrain. Every rainy season, many roads and residential areas next to Nhon Trach 3 Industrial Park are often flooded. However, this is the first time the area has been devastated by water and caused such severe damage.

Joining the working group at the scene, Director of Dong Nai Hydrometeorological Station Nguyen Phuoc Huy agreed that the large water flow originated from the area's overly steep terrain. Because the rainfall measured at Long Thanh and Nhon Trach district stations on the afternoon of the incident was 100-120 mm. This is a water level that often occurs in the province during the rainy season, and it would be difficult to have a widespread impact if the incident had not occurred in the area.

The wall separating the industrial park and residential area collapsed due to the flood. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Mr. Huy said that the main cause of the "flash flood" in the area originated from a 4-5 m high, nearly 30 m long wall in Nhon Trach 3 Industrial Park adjacent to Phuoc Hiep Ward that collapsed. The water stagnated for many hours in the industrial park, rose high, then escaped and crossed Hung Vuong Street, flooding the residential area. Authorities calculated that the terrain of the industrial park was about one meter higher than the adjacent row of houses and nearly 3 m higher than the houses near Hung Vuong Street, 100-200 m away.

"With such a difference in slope, the water flows quickly and strongly when it is drained, causing severe flooding and damaging many properties and works of the people," said Mr. Huy. To limit similar incidents, the authorities need to check the drainage operation process in the industrial park, fix problems when they occur and calculate the construction of new drainage lines.

The wall (orange) built between the residential area and the industrial park. Graphics: Hoang Thanh

A leader of Nhon Trach 3 Industrial Park said that the drainage system and the collapsed wall are under the management of Hung Nghiep Formosa Company Limited. After the incident, the company coordinated with the authorities to visit and support affected households; investigate the cause to find a solution.

Phuoc Tuan

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