On September 30, Hanoi suddenly faced one of the heaviest rains in a decade. Images of the vast water and the hardships of the people spread quickly on social networks, drawing many opinions aimed at the city's management agency.
Along with updated images, there are also hasty statements denying the efforts to prevent and fight natural disasters, and the efforts of thousands of officers, soldiers, and workers who braved danger and wind and rain to carry out their duties.
Do our best to protect the safety and serve the people
Climate change is making the weather more erratic and extreme than ever. The rain on September 30 in Hanoi was an extreme rain, formed under the rare intertwined impact of many factors, as analyzed by experts including: Ragasa storm circulation (storm number 9), Bualoi storm (storm number 10), subtropical high pressure and the strong convergence of the southwest and east wind zones.
The rainfall measured in many areas in Hanoi has exceeded the capacity of the drainage system, such as in O Cho Dua ward, the rainfall from 7am to 1pm on September 30 reached 310mm; while the capacity of Hanoi's drainage system can only handle the same amount of rainfall, 310mm, but in 2 days. That is the objective reality that makes Hanoi unable to avoid flooding.
For Hanoi, in the face of the continuous impact of storms Ragasa and Bualoi, the city has proactively and decisively directed early and from afar with a series of urgent telegrams since September 23, as soon as the meteorological forecast showed complicated weather developments. The City People's Committee has directed functional agencies to prepare flood prevention plans, mobilize police, military, drainage companies, medical ... to be on duty 24/24 hours to promptly handle arising situations, protect and support people.
Official dispatch No. 1813-CV/TU dated September 28, 2025 of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee signed by Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong stated: "Focus on solutions to respond to and overcome the consequences of storm No. 10 and post-storm floods in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 175/CD-TTg dated September 28, 2025".
On September 30, the downpour at rush hour (around 8am) disrupted the traffic system. Even in the rain, hundreds of officers and soldiers of the Capital Command and the City Police took to the streets to regulate and guide traffic flow, and to assist people in passing through heavily flooded areas. Leaders of the City People's Committee, departments, branches, and wards and communes were present at the site to inspect, direct drainage and support people.
Hanoi Drainage Company mobilized 100% of its staff on duty, hundreds of officers and employees were present at flooded areas to drain water; most of them worked through the night to fix nearly 100 flooded areas across the city. By the morning of October 1, there were only about 20 flooded areas left in the city. In wards and communes, Party committees and authorities continued to closely monitor the area, direct flood solutions and support people.
At schools, teachers and staff are mobilized to help and support parents in picking up and taking students home. For students who cannot be picked up on time, the schools will arrange a place to rest, provide snacks and prepare free good meals and overnight accommodation when necessary. People on flooded roads also actively help each other, leaving beautiful images of sharing and human love.
It can be said that behind the images of flooded roads and traffic jams due to unexpected natural disasters is a whole political system taking responsibility with a team of cadres and soldiers who are not afraid of difficulties and hardships to serve the people. It is also the image of a united, humane community, always knowing how to join forces, be of one mind, share and support each other in difficult times.
Thanks to the proactive, positive participation and quick, effective response, by the afternoon of October 1, the flooding situation in the city was basically resolved. Traffic and people's lives have stabilized.
Always receptive and respectful of constructive voices
The difficulties caused by unusually heavy rains like those on September 30 are not unique to Hanoi. Even many large, developed cities in the world - where the infrastructure system is considered the most modern such as: New York (USA), London (UK), Tokyo (Japan), Shanghai (China) - cannot avoid flooding.
Tokyo (Japan) is famous for its underground tunnel system to prevent flooding, but most recently, on September 11, an unusual rainstorm with rainfall of 100-120mm/hour caused serious flooding in the inner city, forcing two districts to issue the highest level of danger warning.
Previously, on July 14, New York City (USA) also suffered an unusually heavy rain. The rainfall measured in the Central Park area of the city was 52mm/1 hour. The rain was only about half that of Tokyo but caused severe flooding in many areas of the city, in some places water even overflowed into the subway.
That said, in the face of the impact of climate change, no city or locality, no response system, no matter how modern, can be sure to control the situation 100%.
That affirms that hasty criticisms of Hanoi city authorities when the flooding occurred on September 30 are not satisfactory. To assess an issue accurately and fairly, it is necessary to rely on reason, instead of temporary emotions. Because reason is the ability of people to understand things, use logical thinking to analyze, evaluate, verify and make judgments based on information and practical knowledge instead of personal feelings or emotions. Reason helps people speak and act objectively, maturely and responsibly.
The general viewpoint of the Hanoi Party Committee and government is to always be receptive and listen, especially to constructive comments. The city also determined that in order to effectively respond to new and difficult tasks, especially natural disasters and epidemics, the most profound lesson is to mobilize the combined strength of the entire political system and the people. That is also the secret to helping Hanoi always be one of the exemplary localities, leading in the prevention and control of natural disasters and epidemics.
During Typhoon Yagi (Typhoon No. 3) in 2024, the city carried out a "lightning-fast" campaign to evacuate 25,000 people to safe shelters, thereby minimizing human losses. In addition to immediate care, the City People's Council also issued a Resolution to support hundreds of billions of VND for affected people.
In proactively solving its own difficulties, Hanoi also demonstrated the sense of responsibility of the capital, promptly supporting other provinces and cities. During the Yagi storm in 2024, the city supported the provinces and cities that suffered damage with more than 85 billion VND. Immediately after the Bualoi storm caused damage to the provinces, Hanoi sent letters of sympathy and support to 5 provinces with a total amount of 55 billion VND.
Hanoi is a large city with a permanent population of more than 8.5 million people, along with millions of temporary residents who come to work every day. The population is large, while the infrastructure system cannot keep up with the general development speed. Traffic, water supply, drainage, fire prevention and fighting... all have shortcomings, which are being gradually overcome. The important thing is that in difficult times, we need solidarity, objective and thorough views, constructive contributions, sharing and encouragement to join hands to overcome difficult times, together to build an increasingly civilized, modern and happy capital.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/mua-ngap-bat-thuong-va-goc-nhin-ly-tri-khach-quan-718073.html
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