Military ferries begin carrying people across the river to replace Phong Chau pontoon bridge

Major General Tran Trung Hoa, Commander of the Engineer Corps, along with functional agencies and local leaders, inspected the 249th Engineer Brigade reinforcing the ferry, preparing to transport people across the river - Photo: ENGINEER CORPS

Ensure maximum safety when taking people across the river

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Colonel Nguyen Dang Chien, Head of the Propaganda Department of Brigade 249, Engineering Corps, said that on the afternoon of October 4, the engineering force began to transport people across the river by military ferry after the Phong Chau pontoon bridge had to temporarily stop operating due to the strong currents on the river, which were not safe.

"Immediately after receiving instructions from General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, on researching the use of military ferries to transport people across the river, the military branch came up with a plan.

After discussing and studying the safest options, the troops decided to use three existing pontoon bridges, combined with a tractor to transport people across the river.

At the same time, to ensure the utmost safety for people, the force has reinforced railings and connecting areas around the buoy burning area," Mr. Chien added.

According to information from the Engineering Corps, a military ferry crossing the river can carry about 30 people, along with bicycles and motorbikes.

At the same time, people are equipped with life jackets and there are military canoes accompanying the ferry to ensure safety.

Engineers check and test the load before taking people across the military ferry - Photo: ENGINEERING CORPS

Authorities ensure ferry safety before operation - Photo: ENGINEERING CORPS

The military ferry was used from 3 sections of the previous temporary pontoon bridge (in the photo) - Photo: ENGINEERING CORPS

The first ferries carrying people across the Red River by military ferries were carried out by the engineering force - Photo: ENGINEERING CORPS

Military ferry takes people across the river in the Phong Chau bridge area - Photo: ENGINEERING CORPS

Temporarily only transporting people and motorbikes

Informing Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tam Nong District ( Phu Tho ) also said that to ensure safety and avoid traffic jams when the military ferry takes people across the river, the District People's Committee will coordinate to regulate traffic.

"The temporary replacement military ferry will only transport people and motorbikes across the river to make it easier for people to travel. We will be in charge of dividing lanes and regulating traffic in this area," Mr. Hung added.

On October 3, at the September meeting of the Ministry of National Defense , General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, requested the Engineering Corps to install pontoon bridges to serve people's travel based on the actual flow situation when conditions are met.

While the pontoon bridge cannot be rebuilt because the Red River is still flowing rapidly, the Engineering Corps coordinated with forces from Military Region 2 and Phu Tho province to study the plan of using military ferries to transport people and motorbikes across the river.

The search for missing people in the Phong Chau bridge collapse is still underway.

Specifically, 30 divers (frogmen) from the 126th Special Forces Brigade (Navy) with specialized equipment continue to search at previously marked locations.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/pha-quan-su-bat-dau-cho-nguoi-dan-qua-song-thay-cho-cau-phao-phong-chau-20241004140957147.htm