Floodwaters wash away Phong Chau pontoon bridge in Northern Vietnam
VOV.VN - Violent floodwaters caused by rising and fast-flowing currents on the Red River swept away the Phong Chau pontoon bridge in the northern midland province of Phu Tho on June 11 morning.
As floodwaters overflowed onto the bridge deck in the morning, Brigade 249 of the Engineering Corps that operates the pontoon bridge ordered people from both sides to stop crossing in order to detach the bridge sections and ensure safety.
Right after the middle section of the pontoon bridge was cut loose, the floodwaters surged and washed away two floating segments downstream.
“The Engineering Corps is preparing plans for residents to cross the river by military ferry when conditions permit,” said Colonel Nguyen Dang Chien, head of the Propaganda Department, Engineering Corps.
Indeed, Brigade 249 temporarily halted operations on June 10 afternoon to reinforce the bridge and maintain safety, after debris got stuck in the bridge due to the impact of upstream flooding and strong currents.
The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reports that water levels on the Red River in Phu Tho have risen nearly 1 meter over the past four days, reaching a short-term peak of 13.6 meters and continuing to fluctuate slowly.
Traffic participants are advised to monitor public information channels to choose appropriate routes and avoid long waiting times.
The pontoon bridge was installed by troops to replace the concrete bridge of the same name that collapsed during the height of super typhoon Yagi’s landfall last September. This incident caused severe disruption to local traffic, forcing residents on both sides of the river to take detours of 40-50 kilometers.
However, due to the unpredictable fluctuations in the Red River water levels, the pontoon bridge frequently had to cease operations, and the engineers often used ferries to transport people across the river.
Pontoon bridge takes shape to replace collapsed bridge due to typhoon Yagi
VOV.VN - More than 200 soldiers from Brigade 249 of the Engineering Corps on September 29 completed the installation of a pontoon bridge near the Phong Chau Bridge in northern midland Phu Tho province that collapsed on September 9 due to violent floodwaters caused by typhoon Yagi.
