34 die, 174 injured in bridge collapse in Vietnam
Can Tho bridge, the longest bridge in the country's southern Mekong Delta under construction, collapsed Wednesday morning, killing at least 34, injuring 174, Vietnam News Agency reported. (Xinhua Photo)
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A 90-m section of the incomplete ramp, in the form of concrete girders weighing thousands of tons collapsed in Binh Minh district, while over 100 workers of the Japanese contractor TNK were working at the construction site. This is the most serious bridge accident in Vietnam, the agency said.
The 121 Can Tho Hospital in southern Can Tho city reported 18 dead patients, born between 1961 and 1988, due to the collapse. The Can Tho General Hospital in the locality reported eight fatalities. Other victims were admitted to different hospitals in Can Tho and Vinh Long.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked the Transport Ministry to coordinate with the authorities of Vinh Long and Can Tho to instruct the rapidly treatment of victims, the search for missing people trapped in the concrete ruins, the dealing with the collapse's aftermaths and the resume of the construction work.
The Health Ministry has established a working team headed by a deputy minister of health to mobilize all resources to treat injured people, minimizing the fatalities. The ministry has also proposed the National Committee for Rescue and Salvage join hands in offering timely first-aid services, and solving the aftermaths.
Construction of approach ramps and the cable-braced bridge's main span over the Hau River, linking Can Tho and Vinh Long, began in September 2004 with investment of over 4.8 trillion Vietnamese dong (302 million U.S. dollars) from official development assistance of Japan and the Vietnamese government's reciprocal capital. It is scheduled to be complete in 2008.
The six-lane bridge will be 2.7 km long, including the 550-meter main span and approach ramps, and 24.9-meter wide. Approach roads measuring over 12.6 km will bring the bridge's total length to 15.4 km.