As evidenced by yesterday’s downpour, the rainy season is not yet over for Saigon. From now until October 20, Zing reports, the highest tides of the year are expected to swell the Saigon River and the waterways of the Mekong Delta region, leaving southern Vietnam more susceptible to flooding.
Beginning around October 15, a tropical depression will pass by Saigon, the news outlet reports, bringing with it rain, strong winds and thunderstorms.
There are varying predictions as to when the combined effects of the storm and high tides will reach their peak – Zing says October 16-17, while Thanh Nien reports October 17-18 – however what is certain is that water levels along the Saigon River are expected to rise as high as 1.67 meters in some places, making flash floods a possibility.
Over the past month, Saigoneers have dealt with their fair share of flood water. During the stormaggedon which took place on September 26, Tan Son Nhat was forced to divert 12 flights to neighboring airports due to flooding on its runways.
In an effort to regulate future flooding at the airport, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed the construction of a nearby reservoir, reports Zing.
If approved, the five- to seven-meter-deep reservoir would cover 1.2 hectares and alleviate flooding on 20 hectares of the airfield. Its suggested location is on military land. Officials have already submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Transport, which will seek comments on the plan from the Ministry of Defense.
[Photo via Zing]
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