Huynh Huu Nghia market is "desolate" due to deep flooding.

Over the past month, due to high tides combined with floodwaters from upstream and storms, the entire Huynh Huu Nghia market area (My Tu commune, Can Tho city) has been flooded. Since then, the business of small traders has been sluggish, as it is difficult for buyers to move into the market due to deep floodwaters.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Han, a trader at Huynh Huu Nghia market, said that every year, when the flood season comes, the market area is only flooded at some points near the riverbank, but not significantly, after about 1 hour it dries up to normal. But this year's flood season, the water level rose from 0.5-0.7m, lasting for more than a month, causing sluggish business, because buyers are afraid to wade into the market. "I have been selling fresh beef at the market for 6 years. If before, I sold more than 70kg of meat in one morning market session, then for the whole month, I have only sold about 20kg of meat each day" - Ms. Han shared.

Continuing the story, Ms. Nguyen Thi Diem Hang, who specializes in selling fresh seafood at Huynh Huu Nghia market, complained: "The entire market area is deeply flooded for a long time, causing business to be sluggish, leading to a decrease in revenue of more than 50% compared to before. I have now moved my goods to the roadside area near the foot of the bridge to sell. I hope the water recedes soon, so that I can return to the point of sale inside the market house, where seafood can be easily preserved and ensured to be safe, instead of having to sell near the dangerous foot of the bridge."

Huynh Huu Nghia Market includes a fresh food area, a general merchandise area, and a fabric market with more than 400 businesses, but the floodwaters have been deep and prolonged, forcing many people to use boats to get around.

With a sad face facing the sparse crowd of people going to the market, Ms. Dang Thi Hong Tri said: "I sell fruits - a perishable item, and for the past month, with the water flooding like this, I have not been able to sell anything. When the market was not flooded, I sold more than 2 million VND per day, but now I only earn 300,000-400,000 VND, I have to accept a loss. Having lived here for decades, this is the first time I have seen the flood water so high. I hope the water recedes quickly so that small traders can do business as before."

Ms. Cao Thuy Lien, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of My Tu Commune, said that as a low-lying commune, every year, floodwaters come around mid-September, lasting until mid-November and only cause flooding in the fields in the commune. But this year's flood season, a lot of water flows from upstream, along with high tides and many heavy storms, so Huynh Huu Nghia market was deeply flooded, and then remained there without receding, because the water on the river was still very high. Unlike previous flood seasons, the water that flooded the market receded after about an hour.

Faced with the situation of rising water causing flooding in the market, affecting the trading activities of small traders, the Commune People's Committee supported by arranging a convenient trading location for both sellers and buyers, just a few dozen meters away from Huynh Huu Nghia market so that business households have a stable place to sell. At the same time, no rent for the market and flowers were collected from business households for 3 months to share their difficulties.

Mr. Vo Minh Luan, Chairman of My Tu Commune People's Committee, informed that in the long term, to prevent flooding in Huynh Huu Nghia market area, the commune will coordinate with Can Tho City Project Management Board to implement the project to prevent flooding in this market. Accordingly, in 2026-2027, the commune will be allocated 52 billion VND to upgrade roads around the market area and install pumping stations to prevent flooding.

Ông Võ Minh Luân, Chủ tịch UBND xã Mỹ Tú, cho biết, ngoài chợ Huỳnh Hữu Nghĩa, triều cường còn gây ngập 13 điểm trường học và các tuyến đường giao thông nông thôn trên địa bàn xã, ảnh hưởng đến việc đi lại, học hành của học sinh và việc giảng dạy của giáo viên. Trước tình hình đó, xã vận động các trường tự cơi nới bàn ghế, bơm nước ra để đảm bảo việc dạy và học. Xã cũng đề xuất UBND TP Cần Thơ xem xét hỗ trợ địa phương một phần kinh phí để duy tu, sửa chữa các tuyến giao thông xuống cấp do bị ngập sâu, đảm bảo đi lại thuận tiện, an toàn cho người dân.

Article and photos: THUY LIEU

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/cho-huynh-huu-nghia-diu-hiu-vi-ngap-sau-a194797.html