On the afternoon of October 27, rising tide flooded Thu Duc wholesale agricultural market in Tam Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. The water affected trading and the vendors' daily lives.
Water covered many parts of the city's largest wholesale market, making it difficult for people and vehicles to move around.
Water flowed into the walkways between the rows of stalls. In some places it rose high enough to halt the sale and transport of agricultural products.
"Since the afternoon, I have raised the fruit baskets two or three times, but the water keeps rising. How can we trade wholesale? No customers will come with water like this," said 54-year-old Nguyen Tuan Huynh.
The high-tide water at Thu Duc wholesale agricultural market was almost black and smelled bad. Many vendors had to wear boots to keep working.
"This water is black because drains in the market are blocked. Whenever the tide rises, it smells terrible. It makes my skin itch, so I do not dare step into it. I sit here and wait a few hours for it to recede," Lam said.
Agricultural trucks moved slowly through the flooded sections. Delivery drivers, vendors and shoppers also struggled to find a route.
Many porters temporarily stopped working because they feared getting the fruit wet and were concerned that the black water could irritate their skin.
Inside the market, people continued working for a living, pulling large carts of goods through the black water.
In low-lying areas, water covered the road, making it hard to tell flat ground from depressions. When vehicles passed, their tires stirred the water and sent it over both sides of the walkways.
Stalls next to the road were surrounded by water. Vendors kept watch over their goods, raised necessary items and tried to keep water out of the selling areas.
The market continued operating despite the flooding. Trucks carrying vegetables and fruit still came and went, while buyers and sellers handled deliveries in difficult road conditions.
According to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, the ninth lunar month's full-moon tide in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to exceed warning level 3 again on October 28-29. This could cause flooding in low-lying areas near rivers.
Thu Duc wholesale agricultural market is in Tam Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
Sources: Dân Trí
