Quynh Trang (Quynh Luu): Danger from homemade pontoon bridges

(Baonghean.vn) - Passing through Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune - Quynh Luu - Nghe An, no one can help but shiver when witnessing the scene of people going back and forth to trade, or the scene of children going to school through the two communes of Quynh Trang - Quynh Vinh on the primitive, bumpy and dangerous pontoon bridge. According to Mr. Phan Van Nhan - head of Hamlet 5, because they could no longer use the ferry due to the increasing demand for travel and trade, with the small amount of money that people donated, in 1990, Quynh Trang people together built this pontoon bridge. Every day, this bridge carries hundreds of people back and forth and is increasingly becoming dilapidated and degraded, posing unpredictable dangers to people passing through here.

Here are some pictures of this bridge:

Two ferries have now become "lifeboats" because cases of people slipping and falling into the river here are not uncommon.

The bridges have become slippery due to being submerged in water for a long time, requiring people to be highly concentrated when crossing.

Just planks and logs nailed or tied together with rudimentary ropes, pontoon bridges are an indispensable means of transportation for the people of Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune.

Mrs. Le Thi Nhat - who has been a ferryman for three generations across this river - has been appointed by the village to be the bridge owner. Her job is to collect voluntary fees from people crossing the bridge to raise money to upgrade and repair the bridge.

A scene of cattle being driven across a bridge.

All children in hamlet 5, Quynh Trang commune, have to cross this pontoon bridge every time they go to school.

Ms. Le Thi Nhat is reassembling loose bridge parts.



Women when going to the market or doing business also have to cross the pontoon bridge to get to Quynh Vinh commune.

Vu Nguyen