Widespread images and videos of cars and motorbikes trying to plow through floodwaters - only to become stranded or float helplessly - flooded social media platforms early this morning.

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Ảnh: Thạch Thảo

Torrential rain from the remnants of Typhoon Matmo (Storm No. 10) throughout the night and into the morning of October 7 caused severe flooding on many streets across Hanoi, throwing traffic into chaos.

Commuters this morning were forced to push their bikes through deep water, while countless vehicles broke down and were left stranded on the roads.

Social media auto forums were inundated with footage of cars and motorbikes becoming submerged as they tried to traverse flooded streets, turning into makeshift boats. Many car owners lamented that their vehicles had just been repaired after the last rainstorm, only to get flooded again. Some who tried to “push through” paid the price.

One video showed Nguyen Xien Street flooded from the early morning, causing severe difficulty for both cars and motorbikes.

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At the intersection of Thang Long Avenue and Tran Duy Hung, vehicles were stuck at a standstill during peak rush hour.
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A sedan was stranded in deep water on Pham Hung Street.
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Do Duc Duc Street, near the JW Marriott Hotel, looked like a river, with cars floating adrift.
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Motorbikes were also seen stranded near My Dinh Bus Station on Pham Hung Street.


On Tran Dang Ninh Street in Cau Giay District, a Ford Transit appeared to turn into a submarine, while even tall vehicles like pickup trucks and SUVs got stuck.

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On Trieu Khuc Street, both cars and motorbikes waded through floodwaters. A white Mazda3 attempted to push through but stalled midway, leaving the owner to wait for rescue.
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Emergency and rescue teams worked at full capacity throughout the morning.

At Le Trong Tan - Quang Trung intersection, traffic police and locals worked together to free a Toyota Camry stuck in deep water.

Auto experts warn that when encountering flooded streets, the most important thing is to stay calm and carefully assess the depth of the water before proceeding.

If the water rises above half the wheel’s height, it's best to stop and find an alternative route. Water entering the engine bay or air intake can cause hydrolock, leading to severe engine damage and repair costs reaching tens or even hundreds of millions of VND (thousands of USD).

If driving through a flooded area is unavoidable, drivers should maintain steady throttle, use a low gear (1st gear or D with “Low” mode on automatic cars), and avoid braking suddenly or stopping mid-way. This technique helps create a small bow wave in front of the vehicle, reducing the chance of water entering the engine.

After exiting the flooded area, drivers should gently pump the brakes to dry the brake pads and check the engine oil, coolant, and air filter.

Experts also strongly advise against trying to restart a stalled engine in floodwater. Doing so when water has entered the combustion chamber can destroy the engine, potentially requiring a full engine replacement.

Hoang Hiep