A representative of the Dong Nai Provincial Police announced on 9/3 during a meeting with the Ministry of Construction and Vietnam Railways Corporation that authorities are gathering evidence to pursue legal action against those responsible for the recent Ghenh bridge incident.

According to authorities, immediately after the incident on the morning of 6/3, police forces cordoned off the scene. They rescued victims, removed the stranded barge from the bridge area, and investigated the scene while interviewing those involved.

Initial findings indicate the cause was the captain's lack of observation and the barge's insufficient height for passing through the navigation span, leading to its collision with the bridge beam.

"We are assessing the damage to establish grounds for considering prosecution and handling the case according to regulations," a representative of the Dong Nai Provincial Police stated.

At the same meeting, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Danh Huy assigned the Railway Department, in coordination with the Maritime and Inland Waterway Departments, to assist the police in assessing the damage. He emphasized the serious impact of the barge collision with Ghenh bridge and recommended severe penalties to deter similar incidents.

Dong Nai police investigate the accident scene on the afternoon of 6/3. *Photo: Phuoc Tuan*

According to Vietnam Railways Corporation, at approximately 10h17 on 6/3, barge NB-8437, traveling on the Dong Nai river from upstream towards TP HCM, collided with the second span of Ghenh bridge. It then reversed and subsequently hit the third span.

The two collisions deformed some bridge structures, broke many bolts, and displaced beam and wind bracing systems. Bridge bearings shifted by about 25 mm, and the railway alignment on the bridge deviated by approximately 320 mm.

The impact caused the bridge to shake violently, leading to six motorbikes on the bridge falling into the railing. Six people sustained minor injuries, with two requiring hospitalization.

The railway industry plans to reinforce the deformed beams at the second span with 8 m long I-steel beams. If completed as scheduled, trains could pass over the bridge at 5 km/h before 10h on 12/3. Concurrently, new beams will be manufactured for replacement, expected to be finished in about 60 days.

The incident disrupted North-South railway traffic through the area. The railway industry estimates damages exceeding 40 billion VND, potentially rising to 140 billion VND if train service restoration is prolonged.

To serve passengers, Saigon Railway Transport Joint Stock Company continues to arrange shuttle buses between Bien Hoa station and Di An station. It also temporarily suspended some local train routes, including Saigon - Phan Thiet and Saigon - Nha Trang.