Nghe An: Bridge collapsed, isolating the whole village

The bridge pier collapsed, Thinh Thanh commune had to temporarily install bamboo poles for people to travel. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The only road to Hong Thinh hamlet, Thinh Thanh commune has been concreted according to the criteria.new rural areas, but after this flood, cars cannot enter or exit the hamlet because the Dang Xay bridge has been destroyed by floodwaters on both sides of the bridge. In this situation, the commune has put up signs prohibiting all types of cars from crossing the bridge.

Only motorbikes and bicycles are allowed to pass through, because the local authorities have temporarily fixed the problem by placing bamboo poles on both sides to fill with soil.

Dang Xay Bridge is at risk of collapsing at any time. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Pham Cong Vien - Head of Hong Thinh hamlet said, in the past few daysfloods, Khe Am water flows strongly, causing the bridge on the only road into the hamlet to collapse both abutments, isolating the whole hamlet during the rainy and flood days. Currently, the bridge surface is tilted, there is a risk of the bridge collapsing at any time, especially when there is heavy rain.

Because it is the only road into the village, people used bamboo stakes on both sides of the bridge to fill in the soil, creating conditions for motorbikes and bicycles to pass, but cars cannot pass.

After the bamboo poles were driven in, the commune poured soil on both sides of the bridge abutment to clear the road, but only for motorbikes and bicycles to pass. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Thinh Thanh Commune said: Dang Xay Bridge was built in 1992. Currently, to avoid accidents for vehiclestraffic, the commune has put up signs prohibiting all types of cars from crossing the bridge, and has reported to higher authorities for solutions. In the long term, we hope the Government will pay attention to investing in rebuilding this bridge so that people can feel secure when the rainy season comes.