Floods rise, Con Cuong district prohibits people from crossing Chom Lom bridge
(Baonghean.vn) - More than 400 households with 2,500 people from 3 villages on the left bank of Lam River in Lang Khe Commune, Con Cuong District have been isolated due to high flood levels. Chom Lom Bridge - the only road for local people here - is being eroded by flood waters, making the bridge's foot very dangerous.
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| Chom Lom bridge pier collapsed when flood water rose. Photo: Lam Tung |
On the evening of August 31, due to the large flood discharge and the large amount of water flowing in, the landslide at the Chom Lom bridge pier (Con Cuong) tended to increase and became extremely serious. Con Cuong district coordinated with Lang Khe commune to mobilize hundreds of militia and self-defense forces along with local people to reinforce the stone embankment to prevent landslides at the foot of Chom Lom bridge.
The district has mobilized 3 specialized excavators to work continuously at full capacity to move 600 cubic meters of gravel and 1,000 steel baskets to temporarily protect the bridge abutment. However, due to heavy floods, the excavators had to move to higher ground and could not continue construction. The floods have caused serious landslides in agricultural land around the bridge abutment area from 40-50m.
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| Mr. Vi Van Quy - Head of Infrastructure Department said: "The water level on the afternoon of August 31 was about 2m higher than on August 30. Currently, the water is swirling strongly under the bridge pier and all machinery has been moved ashore to ensure safety. In the coming time, the units will be on duty 24/7 and when the water recedes, they will continue to pour rocks down the bridge pier to direct the flow away, ensuring safety for the Chom Lom bridge pier". In the photo: Water rushing into the bridge pier causes serious landslides. Photo: Lam Tung |
Mr. Vi Van Duan - Vice Chairman of Lang Khe Commune People's Committee said: Given the danger of the bridge, to ensure the safety of the people, the local government has barricaded both ends of the bridge, strictly prohibiting people, students and vehicles from passing through, because it is very dangerous... Wait until the water recedes to find a solution.
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| The water flows rapidly and strongly into the foot of Chom Lom bridge. Photo: Lam Tung |
Chom Lom suspension bridge was built and put into use in 2007, after the tragic boat sinking in the flood season of 2006 at Chom Lom wharf took the lives of 19 students of Lang Khe Secondary School. This is a bridge of love with the joint contributions of people across the country.
Since the bridge was built across the river, river accidents in Lang Khe have ended, and the lives of the people here have changed a lot. However, people here are now facing difficulties, as the suspension bridge is at risk of collapsing.
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| Currently, the authorities have erected barriers to prohibit vehicles from passing. Photo: Lam Tung |