Bad weather but planes still operate at Phu Bai International Airport

Road traffic is stagnant, many routes are closed

At the Southern Bus Station of Hue City on the morning of October 30, most bus routes to the southern provinces were temporarily suspended due to a sharp decrease in passenger numbers due to flooded roads. For short routes, Hue - Da Nang only had three trips scheduled, but the number of passengers was very low. Many short-distance inter-provincial bus companies Hue - Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Khanh Hoa... had to postpone or cut trips.

Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Director of the Southern Bus Station of Hue City, said: “Since the beginning of the week, the number of passengers has decreased by more than 80% due to heavy rain and floods. Some bus companies have temporarily suspended operations due to insufficient fuel and labor costs. We are coordinating with the authorities to ensure vehicles are parked safely and will announce departure schedules early when the weather is favorable.”

The Northern Bus Station of Hue City is also completely shut down due to lack of passengers. The reason is that National Highway 1 through Hue - Quang Tri is deeply flooded, making it impossible for vehicles to move. Many points on the route, especially in Huong Tra, Phong Dien, Phong Thai wards... the water is still high, causing partial isolation.

Traffic police and road management units are on duty 24/7 to warn and guide vehicles to avoid flooded areas. Authorities have mobilized pumps, excavators and specialized vehicles to quickly fix and clear the route.

Many inter-provincial buses are waiting at the Southern Bus Station of Hue City due to floods.

  Aviation maintained but adjusted

In contrast to the road situation, Phu Bai International Airport (HKQT) has maintained relatively stable operations. From October 27 to now (October 30), the airport has operated about 80 flights between Hue - Hanoi and Hue - Ho Chi Minh City. However, two pairs of flights were canceled and two flights had to be diverted due to bad weather.

Mr. Do Anh Dao, Deputy Director of Phu Bai International Airport shared: “We have strengthened weather control and air traffic management, closely coordinating with airlines to ensure absolute safety. Although a few flights had to be adjusted, overall operations remained stable, with no passengers stranded overnight.”

Currently, Phu Bai International Airport mainly serves domestic flights with an average frequency of 20-25 flights/day. The new T2 terminal, which will be put into operation from June 2023, will increase the capacity to 5 million passengers/year, meeting the travel demand during peak season.

Passengers traveling by train from North to South must stop at Dong Ha station (Quang Tri) to transfer by car to Huong Thuy station (Hue).

In addition, railway transport through Hue City was also seriously disrupted due to landslides and flooding at many points. Vietnam Railways has temporarily stopped running a series of trains through the Central region to ensure safety. Trains SE1/SE2, SE3/SE4 departing from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City had to stop running through the Hue-Da Nang section. Some trips were forced to stop at Dong Ha Station (Quang Tri) and Huong Thuy Station (Hue) to transfer passengers.

According to the leader of Hue Railway Transport Branch, many sections of the route were deeply flooded, such as Km 682+550 to Km 683+650. Thousands of passengers were affected, most of whom were transported by car. Passengers who purchased train tickets during this time are allowed to change or return their tickets free of charge within 30 days.

Currently, ensuring railway safety is the top priority. Relevant functional units closely monitor the situation to check the roadbed, drainage and promptly fix any new flooding spots. If the weather is favorable, train operations can be restored in the next few days.

The North-South railway line through Hue City is more than 110km long, with 10 stations and dozens of large and small bridges and tunnels. The paralysis of this line not only disrupts passenger transport but also affects North-South freight transport.

Leaders of the Hue City Department of Construction recommend that people proactively check travel schedules and follow announcements from bus companies, airlines, and the railway industry to avoid being affected. Transport units are required to closely monitor the development of floods and rains, ensuring absolute safety for passengers and vehicles. Currently, the Department of Construction is coordinating with relevant departments and agencies inside and outside the locality to urgently fix the problem on National Highway 1A and the railway line through Hue, striving to restore normal traffic in the coming days.
Song Minh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/xay-dung-giao-thong/giao-thong-dinh-tre-do-lu-cac-chuyen-bay-den-hue-van-duoc-duy-tri-159368.html