The People’s Committee of Phu Tho province has reported a collapse and float-away of Phong Chau Bridge on National Highway 32C due to the impact of Storm No. 3 (on September 9, 2024).
According to the report by Mr. Bui Van Quang, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Tho province, the storm caused the water level in the Thao River (Red River) to rise significantly, reaching +27.25 m at Am Thuong, which was 1.25 m above the warning level III. Due to the high and rapid river flow, at around 10:02 am on September 9, 2024, Phong Chau Bridge at km18+300 of National Highway 32C (connecting Tam Nong and Lam Thao districts in Phu Tho province) collapsed, sweeping away pillar T7 and two main spans (spans 6 and 7 on the right bank of the Thao River, in Tam Nong district).
Immediately after the incident, the leaders of the Phu Tho People’s Committee arrived at the scene to direct the mobilization of functional forces (police, military, medical, and local people) to deploy emergency measures for rescue, response, and accident resolution.
Upon receiving the information, a working group led by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong directly inspected and directed the search and rescue operations, provided treatment for the injured, visited and encouraged the victims, and instructed on immediate measures to overcome the accident and long-term solutions to ensure traffic safety.
“A preliminary assessment indicated that there were ten vehicles on the bridge at the time of the incident (including 1 truck, 2 tractor-trailers, 6 motorbikes, and 1 electric scooter); eight people were missing. As of 6:00 pm on September 9, three people had been rescued and taken to medical facilities for treatment.”
According to the People’s Committee of Phu Tho province.
Due to the high and rapid floodwaters, the search and rescue operations faced significant challenges, and the exact number of missing vehicles and individuals remained unknown.
At present, Phu Tho province is urgently focusing on reviewing and accurately identifying the number of affected people and vehicles. They are also coordinating with Military Zone 2, Hanoi city, and Vinh Phuc province to search the downstream areas of the river to continue the search for missing individuals. Additionally, they are preparing a plan to search the bridge area when conditions permit, ensuring safety as the water level in the Thao River remains high, above warning level III by 1.44 m.
The province has also implemented traffic diversion plans from a distance (guiding vehicles towards Ngoc Thap Bridge, Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway, and Dong Quang Bridge…) Meanwhile, they have proposed installing a pontoon bridge to temporarily ensure traffic flow and serve the travel needs of the people. They have also arranged for forces to guard, signpost, and fence off the hazardous area, strictly prohibiting people and vehicles from entering; ensuring security and order in the area.
Furthermore, the province is intensifying propaganda and education among the people about the situation and resolutely handling individuals who distort and spread false information.
As an immediate solution, the People’s Committee of Phu Tho province respectfully requests the Ministry of Defense and Military Zone 2 to consider installing a pontoon bridge to temporarily ensure traffic flow and serve the travel needs of the people.
It is suggested that the Prime Minister instruct the Ministry of Transport to invest in building a new bridge to replace the old Phong Chau Bridge with a modern scale, in line with the current scale of National Highway 32C, ensuring traffic safety and meeting the growing travel demands for local socio-economic development.
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