On the afternoon of September 15, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Quang - Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department of Quang Tri Provincial Police confirmed that the relocation of the last barge out of 3 barges swept away by floodwaters, trapped in the My Chanh railway bridge area, has been completed.
According to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Quang, after many days of rain and floods, on September 15, the weather was favorable, the water level of the O Lau River decreased, creating conditions for forces to continue deploying rescue plans.
At the scene, the rescue unit mobilized a 55-ton crane and many vehicles and personnel to handle the barge lying face down in the middle of the river. Divers had to approach underwater, cut off the entangled parts, and remove obstacles clinging to the barge body before proceeding to salvage it.
At about 5 pm on September 15, the capsized barge was brought back to surface. Rescue forces pumped water inside the vehicle, and at 5:20 pm on the same day, the barge was moved downstream to anchor in a safe location.
Regarding the machinery and equipment of the barge that is submerged underwater, functional forces are expected to continue to organize cutting and salvage on September 16.
While waiting to handle the remaining machinery and equipment under the riverbed, a barge was arranged in the area under the railway bridge and My Chanh National Highway 1 bridge to perform the task of warning and guiding waterway vehicles to stay away from the area where there are obstacles, which are machinery and equipment of the sunken barge.
Previously, at about 2 pm on September 13, due to the impact of heavy rain, the water level of the O Lau River rose, and strong currents swept 3 barges downstream, trapped in the My Chanh railway bridge area, Km651+084 of the North - South railway line.
The incident caused vehicles to be trapped right in the area between the railway bridge and My Chanh National Highway 1A bridge, potentially affecting the safety of railway and road traffic works and waterway transport activities.
Immediately after the incident occurred, functional forces deployed a rescue plan. In the afternoon of September 13, a barge was released from its trapped position. By the afternoon of September 14, the largest barge continued to be moved out of the two bridge abutments area.
The successful relocation of the last barge helped clear the My Chanh bridge area, and at the same time created conditions for functional forces to continue handling the remaining equipment underwater, ensuring traffic safety through the area.
