On September 27, the Investigation Police Agency of Phu Tho Province issued a document requesting the Provincial People's Committee and relevant agencies to implement measures to ensure the safety of people's lives and property related to the Phong Chau bridge collapse.

According to the above document, the Provincial Police are investigating the cause of the collapse of the T7 bridge pier and the two spans N6 and N7 of Phong Chau bridge. On September 26, when conducting a survey of the bridge connecting to Phung Nguyen commune (Lam Thao district), the Investigation Police Agency found that the bridge surface of span number 5 (N5) was tilted outwards towards the Red River. Spans number 4, 3, 2 showed signs of being twisted and tilted in the direction of the Red River flow, and the expansion joints were stretched much further than the original design.

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The N5 bridge deck has tilted and is at risk of collapsing. Photo: Duc Hoang

The provincial police requested the People's Committee of Phu Tho province to direct the establishment of an appraisal team to determine the cause of the collapse of the T7 bridge pier and the collapse of the 6th and 7th spans of Phong Chau bridge; and to clearly define the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals. The agency also recommended the establishment of a working group to assess the safety of the remaining part of Phong Chau bridge in order to take timely measures.

On the afternoon of September 27, Mr. Tran Hoai Giang, Director of the Phu Tho Department of Transport, said that the Department had received a document from the Investigation Police Agency, Phu Tho Provincial Police. Faced with the risk of the remaining bridge collapsing, the Department of Transport had submitted a report to the Ministry of Transport for a solution.

Phu Tho proposes sending special forces 'frogmen' to search for victims of Phong Chau bridge collapse

Phu Tho proposes sending special forces 'frogmen' to search for victims of Phong Chau bridge collapse

The Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of Phu Tho province has just sent a document requesting the Ministry of National Defense to help increase specialized forces (frogmen) to help the province search for missing people in the Phong Chau bridge collapse.
Large crane used to salvage Phong Chau bridge section from Red River

Large crane used to salvage Phong Chau bridge section from Red River

Authorities are speeding up the salvage and search for missing victims after the Phong Chau bridge collapse (Phu Tho province).
Watch the engineers burn the buoy after the Phong Chau bridge collapsed

Watch the engineers burn the buoy after the Phong Chau bridge collapsed

The Engineering Force moved and dropped buoys to check the wharf before installing a pontoon bridge on the Red River (Phu Tho province) to temporarily replace the collapsed Phong Chau bridge.