Barge Rescue at Railway Bridge, One Vessel Remains Stranded

Rescue operations for three barges stranded at the Mỹ Chánh railway bridge in Quảng Trị Province, central Vietnam, have been challenging. Around 2 PM on September 13, three unmanned barges involved in mineral exploitation on the Ô Lâu River were swept downstream by floodwaters and collided with the Mỹ Chánh railway bridge, becoming stuck. The barges hit bridge piers, with some also snagging on the bridge's railings. Initial inspections revealed that while sections of the railway bridge's railings (over 10 meters) were damaged, the core structure of the bridge, including its abutments and piers, remained stable. However, the weight of the barges and the force of the current posed a potential threat to the bridge's integrity and train operations. Rescue teams attempted various methods, including cutting the barges' cabins and sinking them, but initial plans were hampered by the barges' severe tilt and their entanglement with the bridge piers. One barge was refloated on the evening of September 13, but two others remained lodged beneath the bridge. Operations resumed on September 14 as floodwaters receded. Efforts included dewatering the barges to make them float and using cranes to lift them. A 50-ton crane was deployed, and after approximately 30 minutes, one barge was successfully pulled free from the bridge pier. However, a second barge, overturned and submerged, is entangled with debris and vegetation, requiring it to be dismantled and removed in sections, a process expected to take several days. The incident caused temporary disruptions to the North-South railway line. Immediately after the stranding, trains operated at a reduced speed of 5 km/h, with a temporary halt of about two hours at one point. By the morning of September 14, speeds were increased to 15 km/h, and later to 30 km/h, but full restoration of service awaits the complete removal of the remaining barge. Source: VnExpress