(Live) Phong Chau bridge collapsed in Phu Tho, people and vehicles suspected to have fallen into the river

Sập cầu Phong Châu tại Phú Thọ, nghi có người và xe rơi xuống sông - Ảnh 1. — Phong Chau Bridge has only 1 span left – Photo: Social network

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Vice Chairman of Tam Nong District Nguyen Manh Hung said that Phong Chau Bridge has a steel structure and has now collapsed two spans, drifting into the riverbed.

According to Mr. Hung, there may be people and vehicles falling into the river when the bridge collapsed, so local authorities are focusing on searching, rescuing, and providing emergency assistance.

Sập cầu Phong Châu tại Phú Thọ, nghi có người và xe rơi xuống sông - Ảnh 2. — Phong Chau Bridge collapsed – Photo: ANH TIEN

Mr. Tran Hoai Giang – Director of the Department of Transport of Phu Tho province – said he was on his way to the scene. He has immediately directed the authorities to organize traffic flow to ensure safety for the people.

Vice Chairman of Lam Thao District People's Committee Ngo Duc Sau said that 2 collapsed spans of the bridge were located on the Tam Nong district side, the remaining span was located on the Lam Thao district side.

Sập cầu Phong Châu tại Phú Thọ, nghi có người và xe rơi xuống sông - Ảnh 3. — Crowds of people gathered at the scene of the bridge collapse – Photo: VOV

Mr. Sau said Phong Chau bridge is a bridge built with old technology, with a long life span. Currently, the provincial and district police forces are checking cameras to determine exactly whether any people or vehicles fell into the river when the bridge collapsed. In addition, the functional forces of the province and district are present to search, rescue and save victims. At the same time, they are regulating traffic flow, tightening the scene, and not allowing people to be present in the bridge area.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre, Colonel Nguyen Minh Tuan - Director of Phu Tho Police - said that according to initial assessment, this was a very serious incident on National Highway 32.

Sập cầu Phong Châu tại Phú Thọ, nghi có người và xe rơi xuống sông - Ảnh 4. — A collapsed section of the bridge floating in the water – Photo: VOV

“However, due to the strong current, the rescue forces have prepared all means, materials and human resources to ensure the safety of the forces for immediate deployment. We are currently calculating the rescue plan. If the current is safe, we will deploy immediately,” said Mr. Tuan.

Sập cầu Phong Châu tại Phú Thọ, nghi có người và xe rơi xuống sông - Ảnh 5. — A young man escaped and fell into the bridge pier – Photo: TUNG DINH

Mr. Tuan said that the camera review is being carried out and there will be an announcement after the exact results are available.

At 11:30 a.m., the leader of Tam Nong District People's Committee said that the provincial military command and provincial police had mobilized motorboats and many vehicles... to the area where the bridge collapsed to search.

According to Tam Nong district vice chairman Nguyen Manh Hung, up to now it has not been determined exactly how many vehicles and people fell into the river.

Sập cầu Phong Châu tại Phú Thọ, nghi có người và xe rơi xuống sông - Ảnh 6. — Leaders of Phu Tho Provincial Police were present at the scene of the Phong Chau bridge collapse to direct rescue work - Photo: GIANG LONG

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Xuan Sang said he was on his way to the scene to coordinate with the Department of Transport of Phu Tho province to overcome the consequences.

According to Mr. Sang, the Ministry of Transport has not yet received an official report on the Phong Chau bridge collapse from the Phu Tho Department of Transport.

Talking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Thang (Huong Non commune, Tam Nong, Phu Tho) said that as soon as he heard the news of the bridge collapse, he immediately ran to the scene to inquire about the situation because he was worried that a relative of his had unfortunately fallen into the river.

“Luckily, my relatives are not injured. Currently, many people are gathering at the bridgehead to listen and worry because they fear that their relatives may have fallen into the river,” said Mr. Thang.

The bridge collapsed 2 minutes after passing the bridge.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online, Ms. Han Hoa (living in Phu Tho) said that about 2 minutes after her motorbike and a friend's motorbike had crossed Phong Chau bridge to Tam Nong, the bridge collapsed.

“I have only crossed Phong Chau bridge twice in the past year. This morning was the second time, my friend and I went to renew our phone SIM card. When my car had just crossed the bridge to Tam Nong for about 2 minutes, we suddenly heard a loud noise. When we turned back, we saw that the bridge had collapsed. It was so real, so scary, and even now I am still shaking when I think about it,” Ms. Hoa recalled.

Sập cầu Phong Châu tại Phú Thọ, nghi có người và xe rơi xuống sông - Ảnh 7. — Phong Chau bridge collapse scene seen from above – Photo: TRAN QUY

According to Ms. Hoa, at the time the bridge collapsed, she saw a number of motorbikes and cars fall into the river with very strong currents.

No cameras on the bridge

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online at noon on September 9, Colonel Nguyen Minh Tuan, director of Phu Tho Police, said that because there were no cameras on the bridge, the authorities checked the cameras at the houses near the bridge.

“We are currently conducting further verifications to confirm. We will announce this exact information in an hour,” said Colonel Nguyen Minh Tuan.

Sập cầu Phong Châu tại Phú Thọ, nghi có người và xe rơi xuống sông - Ảnh 8. — Current status of Phong Chau bridge collapse area – Photo: GIANG LONG

According to Mr. Tuan, rescue work must be carried out on the basis of ensuring safety because with the current flow rate, safety must be given top priority.

Currently all functional forces are ready at the bridge to participate in the rescue.

Received the first three victims

On the morning of September 9, a representative of Tam Nong Medical Center said that they had received the first three victims of the Phong Chau bridge collapse.

Doctors are taking X-rays and testing to treat the three patients. The extent and condition of their injuries have not yet been determined.

A representative of Tam Nong Medical Center said that the number of victims is expected to increase. Therefore, the center is prepared and has moved patients from the intensive care unit to another room for emergency treatment.

In addition, the center sent two mobile emergency teams and two ambulances to the scene, fully equipped with medicine, supplies, oxygen tanks, etc. to be ready for rescue and treatment.

Lam Thao Medical Center also mobilized human resources to be present at the scene for rescue.

Phong Chau Bridge crosses the Red River on National Highway 32C, connecting Lam Thao and Tam Nong districts, Phu Tho province. The bridge is currently managed and operated by the Department of Transport.

Phong Chau Bridge was inaugurated and put into use in 1995, consisting of 8 spans. Of which, there are 4 simple spans with prestressed reinforced concrete girders, 3 steel truss spans and 1 simple span with normal reinforced concrete girder.

After 17 years of operation, Phong Chau bridge was repaired in 2013.

In August 2022, voters of Phu Tho province proposed that the Ministry of Transport invest in upgrading or building a new bridge to replace Phong Chau bridge. However, due to limited public investment capital, priority is only given to key and urgent projects, so the Ministry of Transport reported to the Government to prioritize allocating investment capital for the project to complete National Highway 32C through Viet Tri city in the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025.

Regarding the construction of the new Phong Chau bridge, the Ministry of Transport has noted the recommendations of voters in Phu Tho province and will prioritize investment when resources are balanced.

Traffic diversion plan is as follows:

Vehicles from Dong Quang Bridge, Trung Ha Bridge, Thanh Thuy, Tam Nong, Thanh Son, Tan Son districts to Lam Thao, Viet Tri travel along the route: National Highway 32 (Tam Nong) → go to Ho Chi Minh Road → cross Ngoc Thap Bridge or cross National Highway 2 → go to Lam Thao, Viet Tri. Vehicles from Lam Thao, Viet Tri go to Tam Nong, Thanh Thuy, Thanh Son, Tan Son, Dong Quang Bridge, Trung Ha Bridge in the opposite direction.

Vehicles from Thanh Thuy, Tam Nong, Thanh Son, Tan Son districts to Lam Thao, Viet Tri travel along the route: National Highway 32 (Tam Nong) → go to Trung Ha bridge → go to Ba Vi district, Hanoi → go to Van Lang bridge → go to Viet Tri, Lam Thao. Vehicles from Lam Thao, Viet Tri to Tam Nong, Thanh Thuy, Thanh Son, Tan Son in the opposite direction.

Vehicles from Thanh Thuy, Tam Nong, Thanh Son, Tan Son districts to Hanoi, Vinh Phuc travel along the following route: National Highway 32 (Tam Nong) → go to Trung Ha bridge or → go to Provincial Road 317G → go to Provincial Road 317E → go to Dong Quang bridge → go to Ba Vi district, Hanoi → Vinh Thinh bridge → go to Vinh Phuc. Vehicles from Hanoi, Vinh Phuc go to Thanh Thuy, Tam Nong, Tan Son, Thanh Son districts in the opposite direction.

Vehicles from Thanh Thuy, Tam Nong, Tan Son, Thanh Son districts to Vinh Phuc, Hanoi and vice versa can follow the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway or National Highway 2: National Highway 32 (Tam Nong) → go to Ho Chi Minh road → go to National Highway 2 → go to Vinh Phuc, Hanoi or National Highway 32 (Tam Nong) → go to Ho Chi Minh road → go to IC9 Interchange → Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway → go to Vinh Phuc, Hanoi.