Barge sinks after two collide on Sai Gon River

The incident took place at 1:40am when the barge TG 14139, carrying 224 tons of cement from Nhon Trach to Binh Duong, crashed into the barge SG 6939, which was unladen at the time and travelling in the opposite direction to Cu Chi.

The collision resulted in the sinking of barge TG14130 in in the upstream waters of the Sai Gon River near Phu My Bridge. Three people on board the barge jumped into the river to escape the sinking vessel and tried to swim to safety. The barge SG 6939 returned to rescue the three from the water and carried them safely to shore.

By noon on April 19, the traffic flow of vessels and ships on the river had begun to get back to normal following the collision.

The cause of the incident is still under investigation. The sunken barge will be lifted from the river on the afternoon of the same day.