Saigon River tides to rise higher than expected

A flooded street in Hiep Binh Phuoc Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City

Flood tides in the Saigon River will rise to higher than expected levels in coming days, increasing the likelihood of dyke breaches around the city, weather experts have warned.

The highest level in the river today will be 1.52 meters, predicts the Southern Regional Hydro-meteorological Center (SRHMC).

SRHMC official Le Thi Xuan Lan said the high tides were mainly caused by the inflow of cold air from the

North-East Monsoon which has strengthened during the last six days.

Meanwhile, the 1.50 meter high flood tide on the Saigon River Monday broke another section of around five meters of a small dyke surrounding an area in Hiep Binh Phuoc Ward, Thu Duc District.

On Sunday, it broke a 14-meter section of the same dyke and the breach was repaired on the same day.

The breaches have submerged about 200 houses and several apricot gardens, said Nguyen Nam Hai, chairman of the district’s People Committee, adding that the new broken section has also been repaired.

Pham Viet Thang, an official of the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control and Prevention, said the city planned to strengthen the dykes this year to prevent flood tides from the river.

The committee also warned of new cold air inflows, increasing flood tides that could cause flooding in suburban areas like District 12, and the districts of Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon and Cu Chi.

Reported by Mai Vong

Update from: http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/?catid=3&newsid=45409

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